Helldivers 2, the third-person shooter game, has achieved an impressive milestone, with over 400,000 concurrent players on Steam over the weekend. This places it as the fifth most popular game on the platform, despite being a paid game, unlike three of the other top five games which are free to play.

The game, released on February 8 and funded by Sony, experienced server issues due to the overwhelming 155,000 players during its opening weekend. However, the recent surge in players, taking advantage of the extra XP weekend, indicates that the server issues have been at least partially addressed.

While Helldivers 2 has seen significant success, it is interesting to note that Palworld, a paid title, still leads as the most popular game on Steam, with over 430,000 concurrent players. This is despite Palworld being $10 cheaper than Helldivers 2 and being a month older, with a record-breaking 2.1 million concurrent players at its peak.

Helldivers 2, influenced by the movie version of Starship Troopers, was originally a top-down co-op shooter released in 2015. The game has since evolved into a third-person view, with expanded scale and increased popularity. Notably, the player figures mentioned are specific to PC, excluding PS5 players, with crossplay available between the two platforms.

Kotaku’s Zach Zweizen has praised the game, despite encountering some technical issues. He highlights the game’s approach to combat, emphasizing the difficulty and brutality of war, while providing players with the necessary tools and options for success in the game’s intense battles.

The success of Helldivers 2 on Steam is a testament to its engaging gameplay and the appeal it holds for a large number of players. With its popularity continuing to grow, it’s clear that the game has made a significant impact in the gaming community.