Helldivers 2 Loses 90% of Players - Inside Games Roundup

Summary

This episode of 'Inside Games' discusses the rapid decline in player numbers for 'Helldivers 2', a once popular live service game. It also covers the cancellation of planned DLC for 'GTA 5' due to the overwhelming success of 'GTA Online'. The hosts touch on the community's frustration with 'Elden Ring's' unaddressed performance issues on PC and the cancellation of the 'Horizon' Netflix series. They end on a lighter note with a heartwarming story about a speedrunning dog named Peanut Butter and provide a roundup of upcoming game releases.

Takeaways

• 🎮 Helldivers 2's player base has drastically dropped, with a 90% decrease from its peak, signaling a potential issue for live service games reliant on active players.
• 📉 Sony's requirement for PC players to link a PlayStation Network account to their Steam account for Helldivers 2 was met with backlash and has since been reversed.
• 🚀 Despite a sharp decline, Helldivers 2 still maintains a significant player base on PC, suggesting that live service games can recover with new content updates.
• 🔥 The success of GTA Online overshadowed the development of single-player DLC for GTA 5, with Rockstar prioritizing the lucrative online platform over additional content.
• 🛑 Elden Ring's developers, FromSoftware, have advised players to fix performance issues themselves, which has been met with frustration from the community.
• 📺 The Netflix adaptation of Horizon Zero Dawn has been halted, reportedly due to issues with the showrunner's behavior, leaving the project's future uncertain.
• 🐶 A heartwarming story from Summer Games Done Quick features a dog named Peanut Butter who 'won' a game of Major League Baseball, bringing joy to viewers.
• 🌟 The upcoming game 'Once Human' promises a multiplayer open-world survival experience set in a post-apocalyptic future, allowing players to rebuild their world.
• 🌳 'Ark of Karen' offers a unique blend of tower defense and colony simulation, where players build a mobile fortress on a giant walking tree.
• ✈️ 'Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown' brings realistic aerial combat to the Nintendo Switch, providing a full 360° movement experience for players.
• 👢 'Anger Foot' is a fast-paced AC FPS game that emphasizes the intensity of both combat and music, set for release on PC.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed at the beginning of the video?

The main topic discussed at the beginning is the decline in popularity and player base of Hell Divers 2.

How many copies did Hell Divers 2 sell shortly after its release?

Hell Divers 2 sold 8 million copies on PlayStation and PC within a month of its release.

What significant player statistic is mentioned for Hell Divers 2?

The game hit more than 458,000 concurrent players two weeks after launch.

What was the 24-hour peak player count for Hell Divers 2 on Steam, as checked on Friday?

The 24-hour peak player count was just over 46,000.

Why did Sony face backlash from Hell Divers 2 players?

Sony faced backlash for requiring PC players to link a PlayStation Network account to their Steam account to continue playing the game.

What reason did Joseph Rubino give for the cancellation of GTA 5 story DLC?

Joseph Rubino stated that the success of GTA Online made Rockstar change its priorities, making the argument for standalone DLC less compelling.

What issue is highlighted with the PC performance of Elden Ring's DLC 'Shadow of the Erdtree'?

The PC performance issues include struggling to hit 60 frames per second and overall instability.

What solution does FromSoftware suggest for PlayStation 5 players experiencing frame rate issues in Elden Ring?

FromSoftware suggests rebooting the console in safe mode and using the rebuild database option.

What happened to the Horizon series planned for Netflix?

The Horizon series is apparently stalled and not moving forward, likely due to allegations of toxic behavior by its showrunner, Steve Blackman.

Who is Peanut Butter and what did he achieve at Summer Games Done Quick?

Peanut Butter is a Shiba Inu who won a game of 'Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball' by hitting a walk-off home run.