Setting a New Benchmark with Helldivers 2
In a groundbreaking milestone for gaming history, Sony’s recent earnings announcement revealed that Helldivers 2 has soared to unprecedented heights, selling a staggering 12 million units within its first 12 weeks of release. This extraordinary achievement catapults Helldivers 2 to the esteemed title of the fastest-selling PlayStation game of all time, eclipsing the previous record holder, God of War Ragnarok, which achieved 5 million copies sold in its debut week.
Johan Pilestedt, the CEO of Arrowhead Studios, expressed profound gratitude to the dedicated community and the entire team behind Helldivers 2, acknowledging their unwavering support, passion, and commitment to the cause of democracy. Pilestedt marveled at the fact that the number of Helldivers 2 copies sold thus far surpasses the population of Sweden, the home country of Arrowhead Studios, underscoring the game’s monumental success.
Sony’s earnings briefing hailed Helldivers 2 as a triumph that surpassed all expectations, propelling it to become Sony’s most successful PC title to date. The game’s remarkable performance significantly bolstered sales and profits during the company’s latest financial quarter, solidifying its position as a powerhouse in the gaming industry.
Moreover, Helldivers 2 played a pivotal role in driving up the number of monthly active users on PlayStation to a staggering 118 million, marking a notable 9% year-over-year increase. March witnessed a remarkable 15% surge in total playtime on PlayStation compared to the previous year, with the entire fourth quarter boasting the second-highest total playtime in Sony’s history, trailing only behind the unprecedented spike observed in Q4 of FY2020 amidst pandemic-induced lockdowns.
While Sony retains ownership of the Helldivers IP, developer Arrowhead Studios captured headlines recently due to the controversial requirement for Steam users to link their accounts to PSN. In response to widespread backlash, Sony reversed its decision. Now, Helldivers 2 PC players are rallying to restore the game’s user-review rating to its pre-controversy status.
In the United States, Helldivers 2 has dominated the gaming landscape, emerging as the most-downloaded PS5 game since its February launch and claiming the title of the best-selling game of the year thus far. With its meteoric rise to unparalleled success, Helldivers 2 has etched its name into the annals of gaming history, setting a new benchmark for excellence in the industry.