Fans Crown Niko Bellic As The Best GTA Protagonist

May 15, 2025

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The majority of fans state that Niko Bellic is the best GTA protagonist.
They praise his morals and sympathetic character.
Niko’s background as a soldier also makes him badass and more interesting.

With almost 13 entries, GTA is one of the best-regarded gaming franchises ever, and it has become synonymous even with non-gamers. Having featured some of the best-written characters in fiction, the debate of the best GTA protagonist often sparks up.

While the opinion may vary from person to person, most have come to the conclusion that Niko Bellic from GTA 4 is the best protagonist from the franchise overall. Some even refer to him as an inherently good guy, which is quite uncommon to call a GTA protagonist.

Why it matters: While GTA 4 might not be the best entry in the franchise, its story was top-notch and represented a grittier and more realistic approach to the American Dream. As such, it birthed Niko Bellic’s character, which fans love and adore to this day.

Am I alone in thinking that Niko is up there with the top R* protagonists of all time?
byu/Itchy_Tasty87 inrockstar

Fans say that Niko might be the only GTA character with moral values. According to them, Niko was genuinely a good guy trying to avoid his past life and start anew, but he always ends up entangled in sticky situations.

Moreover, Niko does a job for free in many instances, even if his morals tell him it’s wrong. For example, he helped Ilyena after Mikhail Faustin’s death from her abusive boyfriend for free.

niko bellic praise — Fans Claim That Niko Bellic Might Be The Only ‘Good’ GTA Protagonist

Even aside from his morals, Niko’s background is the most interesting of all the protagonists. As an immigrant, his past is often brought up during the game, and his character development is substantial throughout the main story.

Throughout the game, Niko can encounter strangers and decide to help them. Shaped by his past, his character is sympathetic, which was lovely for the incredibly depressive world Rockstar built in GTA 4.

niko bellic best rockstar protagonist — Fans Putting Niko Bellic Among The Best Rockstar Protagonists || X

Beyond his character and morals, fans also describe Niko Bellic as a pure ‘badass’. As a former soldier, Niko was efficient in every job, and the revenge missions in GTA 4 were among the best. Whether it was killing Vlad or Faustin, Niko was efficient and, unlike any other GTA protagonist, he never flinched or was afraid to take care of business.

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Do you agree that Niko Bellic is the best GTA protagonist? Let us know in the comments below or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

Ubisoft Confirms Multiple Delays To Major Games To Focus On Quality

May 14, 2025

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Ubisoft has confirmed multiple delays to high-profile projects in its latest financial report.
Franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Splinter Cell will be impacted by this decision.
Ubisoft intends to maximize the quality of its output through this strategy.

Ubisoft has shared its latest financial results, reiterating the strong results from Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The publisher has also shared its plans for the future, highlighting the fact that various important projects have now been pushed back.

As per the gaming giant, this is being done in an attempt to prioritize quality above all else.

Why it matters: Ubisoft previously delayed Assassin’s Creed Shadows for the same reason, and the results were largely positive. The gaming giant likely hopes to find similar or greater success moving forward.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Anvil Engine — Assassin’s Creed Shadows Marks A Shift In The Publisher’s Approach

According to Ubisoft, the company’s biggest projects are being given additional development time and resources for the best possible odds of success. The company now expects a very busy release schedule in FY26-FY28 compared to FY25-FY26.

The group has decided to provide additional development time to some of its biggest productions.

-Ubisoft

This change comes after Ubisoft joined forces with Tencent to form a new subsidiary as part of a broader shift in its business strategy.

Although the gaming giant has yet to specify IPs and games, reports indicate that both Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry will be impacted by this decision. The much-anticipated Splinter Cell Remake is also expected to receive additional development time.

Moreover, this should mean that the next few months will be fairly light for the publisher. This should prove to be a nice change of pace after major high-profile releases like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Star Wars Outlaws, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and more over the last few years.

Splinter Cell Remake Concept Art — Splinter Cell Remake Might Be Further Away Than Initially Expected

One game that seems unimpacted by this decision appears to be Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake. As per the financial report, this project is still on track to arrive by March 2026.

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What are your thoughts on Ubisoft’s consistent focus on quality? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

Sony CFO: New Leadership Prioritizes Financial Discipline and Engagement Over Unit Sales

May 14, 2025

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Sony’s new CFO, Lin Tao, has stated that the company has made two big changes in strategy.
The first one is more emphasis on MAU and engagement rather than hard sales numbers.
And, the second one demands more control over expenditure from the first-party studios.

Despite the PS5 selling considerably well, Sony has had to face a lot of hurdles this generation. From the failure of its live-service ambitions to a lack of exclusive titles, the company hasn’t had it easy, and as a result, made several changes at the top of the food chain at the start of 2025.

Hideaki Nishino replaced the now-retired Jim Ryan as the head of the PlayStation division while Hermen Hulst became the CEO of its studio business group. And, as part of its financial year report, Sony has revealed what changes this leadership shake-up has brought.

Why it matters: Ballooning budgets have been the biggest enemy of AAA titles, and Sony is trying to fix this mistake shows it’s moving in the right direction.

Sony CFO — Lin Tao has revealed the two biggest changes at SIE.

According to the company’s CFO, Lin Tao, there have been two major changes at Sony because of the new leadership: more focus on MAU and financial discipline within the studios.

New CFO emphasized Sony’s change from unit sales to engagement and monthly active users (MAU), linking higher MAU to long-term profitability.

Lin Tao also stressed tighter financial discipline in first-party studios, acknowledging past issues but noting a major shift in spending mindset.

Considering the number of live-service bombs and the $2 billion the company put aside solely to research the niche, this financial control isn’t a bad idea. Concord alone cost $400 million, while the cancelled Days Gone live-service title had already spent $250 million.

Concord gaming — The failure of premium AAA titles like Concord Has hurt Sony a lot.

With the upcoming Trump tariffs also predicted to cost the Japanese gaming giant a massive $680 million, right now is the perfect time for financial control on first-party titles.

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Do you think Sony is making the right decision with these changes? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.

Resident Evil 9 ‘100%’ To Be Revealed This Year With A Release Set For 2026, Confirms Insider

May 14, 2025

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A reveal for Resident Evil 9 can take place either at the Summer Game Fest or the TGA.
The game will be releasing next year.
Resident Evil 9 will reinvent the series just as Resident Evil 4 and 9 did, with Leon Kennedy set to return as the protagonist.

Capcom has been on a roll with the Resident Evil franchise over the past few years. The next mainline entry is officially in development and an official reveal is expected any time now.

A reliable insider has added fuel to the anticipation surrounding Resident Evil 9, claiming that the official reveal is 100% happening this year, with a release planned for 2026.

Why it matters: Following the success of the Resident Evil 4 remake, fan expectations for the next installment are sky-high. Resident Evil 9 is shaping up to be the most anticipated entry in the series, and Capcom hasn’t disappointed so far.

resident evil 9 insider info — Dusk Golem On When Resident Evil 9’s Reveal And Release

Dusk Golem, a well-known and trusted insider, expects Capcom to officially announce Resident Evil 9 at either the upcoming Summer Game Fest or the TGA later this year.

The exact release window isn’t confirmed, but it could either launch in the first half of 2026, in the current fiscal year, or in the second half of 2026.

With GTA 6 expected for a May 2026 release, publishers will avoid directly competing with the title. As such, Resident Evil 9 will probably drop within the second half of 2026 unless Capcom is way ahead in development.

Resident Evil 1 remake — Resident Evil 1 To Receive The Remake Treatment Next

The insider also mentioned that the team had internally delayed Resident Evil 9, deciding the game needed more time in development.

Resident Evil 9 is the most ambitious entry in the franchise and will mark a three-year gap since the last release, making it the longest hiatus since the series’ revival in 2017.

The hiatus is likely due to the fact that Resident Evil 9 will reinvent the series much like Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7 did. Furthermore, Leon Kennedy will also return as the lead protagonist.

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What are your expectations for Resident Evil 9? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

Nintendo President Finally Admits The Switch Wasn’t Powerful Enough

May 14, 2025

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After 8 years, Nintendo has finally admitted that the Switch isn’t powerful enough for new games.
The president says more power is necessary for enhanced gameplay with the latest titles.
Fans have been complaining about the original Switch’s lack of power for years now.

For the last 2 or 3 years, fans had been looking forward to the Nintendo Switch 2. Come 2025, the handheld is finally a reality, and it offers a substantial power upgrade over its predecessor, just like the fans wanted.

Now, even the Nintendo president has admitted that the Switch wasn’t powerful enough, and the hardware isn’t capable of handling modern games, so a successor was necessary.

Why it matters: Most modern releases have had performance issues on the Switch, even Pocketpair, Palworld developers stated that the handheld’s outdated hardware is a major issue for most ports.

The Nintendo Switch isn’t powerful enough for modern gaming

Shuntaro Furukawa, during an investor Q&A, was asked the reason behind the Switch 2 not getting a major overhaul from its predecessor. Furukawa said it’s mainly because the Switch wasn’t powerful enough for current-gen games.

We believe that Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza offer new gameplay experiences that could not be realized on Nintendo Switch.

– Shuntaro Furukawa

He said they didn’t want to go too overboard. However, they still wanted to develop games with enhanced processing capabilities like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, which simply wasn’t possible without the upgraded console.

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World — Nintendo Switch 2 is substantially powerful than its predecessor

He further reassured that going forward, Nintendo will launch games offering brand new gameplay experiences, which are possible due to the Switch 2’s power. Even games like Elden Ring have been announced for the console, too.

Despite this, the Switch 2 has been a part of many debates. First of all its pricing, which has been highly uncertain due to the tariffs. It also became the first company to introduce a game priced at $80 MSRP.

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What are your thoughts on the Nintendo president calling the Switch not powerful enough? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.

Konami Has Reported Its Most Profitable Fiscal Year In Over A Decade

May 14, 2025

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Konami has had its most profitable fiscal year in over a decade, making more than $500 million in pure profit.
The company’s gaming business was a major reason for this, accounting for three quarters of the revenue.
In addition, the Japanese giant saw a 17% growth in overall revenue, rising to $2.8 billion.

Konami has been making a gradual comeback in the gaming industry recently, having a strong showing last year with the Silent Hill 2 remake that skyrocketed its stock almost 100%.

With several Metal Gear titles also in the works, the Japanese giant is slowly earning back its rightful place at the top of the ladder. And, if there is anything that showcases this resurgence, it’s Konami’s financial results for the previous year, which are the company’s best in over a decade.

Why it matters: Konami is one of gaming’s most legendary companies, and the success of its IPs is positive for the industry.

Konami fiscal year results — Konami saw unprecedented growth in the recent financial year

As per the year-end report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, Konami saw a robust increase in its net profit, with the amount rising 26.2% compared to last year. The company made ¥74.7 billion($509 million) in pure net profit in the recent financial year, its best numbers in the last 10+ years.

In addition, the Japanese giant saw a whopping 17% rise in overall revenue, with the company making ¥421.6 billion in the entire fiscal year, equivalent to roughly $2.8 billion.

Digital games were responsible for most of this revenue, with the sector showcasing 23% growth and making almost ¥100 billion($679 million) in pure profit, rising 25% from the previous fiscal year.

Furthermore, the Silent Hill series surpassed 11.5 million copies sold while Yu-Gi-Oh! has now shipped 32.3 million units globally. The digital entertainment and gaming sectors accounted for 3 quarters of the company’s overall revenue as per the financial report.

Silent Hill 2 Remake Featured konami — Silent Hill 2 Remake was a big reason for the company’s successful year and record profit.

This remarkable performance is no surprise when you take the success of the Silent Hill 2 remake into account. The horror title topped 2 million sales just recently and was a massive success on the PS5 while also getting critical acclaim and GOTY nominations.

The developer Bloober Team also got a massive financial push thanks to the game’s performance, and it seems like Konami didn’t get left behind.

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What IP do you think Konami should work on now? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.

Sony Believes US Tariffs Will Lead To $680 Million Operating Income Losses

May 14, 2025

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Sony has addressed the impact of the recently announced US tariffs on its business.
The gaming giant expects to lose 100 billion yen ($680 million) in operating income as a result of the tariffs.
It states that measures are being taken to combat this impact, leading to speculations about potential price hikes.

Sony’s PlayStation business continues to report impressive results, but the future remains uncertain. Following the new tariffs announced in the US, the gaming giant is already preparing for the worst.

As per its latest financial records, the tariffs could reduce operating income by a whopping 100 billion yen.

Why it matters: Japanese companies like Nintendo have already raised prices due to the recent tariffs. Therefore, PlayStation consoles and accessories could be next in line to receive a price hike.

PS5 Pro Featured — PlayStation Consoles Could See New MSRPs Due To Recent Tariffs

Sony’s latest earnings report states that the company is currently responding to the recent US tariffs. Although exact measures for the new policies have yet to be revealed, the company is preparing for various scenarios.

It states that the tariffs could lead to operating income declining by approximately $680 million, which would be far from ideal since the PlayStation business has suffered losses like Concord and various cancellations recently.

We expect to manage the impact of profitability to approximately 100 billion yen.

-Sony

Although Sony did not discuss potential price hikes, the PS5 and PS5 Pro could soon become more expensive as a result of the US tariffs. The gaming giant could also follow in Xbox and Nintendo’s footsteps, upping its AAA game pricing to $80 at some point.

PlayStation Live Service Games — The PlayStation Business Could Be Hurt By New US Policies

Elsewhere, the gaming giant confirmed that the PS5 is approaching 80 million sales. The consoles sold nearly 3 million units last quarter, adding up to a total of 77.7 million lifetime sales.

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What are your thoughts on the US tariffs and their implications for console gaming? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

“It Was Great To Have A Competitor Who Let Us Win”, Says Former PS Boss On Beating Xbox Last Gen

May 14, 2025

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PlayStation won the console war last-gen, and ever since, Xbox hasn’t had a chance to recover.
The former boss of PlayStation, Shuhei Yoshida, looks back at the moment when he demonstrated borrowing games from friends in a video during E3 2013.
He said that it was good to have a competitor that let PlayStation win.

It is clear to everyone that PlayStation absolutely dominated the competition last year. PlayStation 4 is one of the best-selling consoles of all time. Sony took the last-gen seriously as PlayStation 3 wasn’t really that good of a console, and Xbox 360 was giving it a run for its money.

That said, everything changed when the former Shuhei Yoshima, the former boss of PlayStation, demonstrated the process of how you can borrow a PS4 game from your friend back in E3 2013. Now, Yoshida looks back on this time and says that it was good to have a competitor like Xbox that let them win.

Why it matters: Yoshida’s statement seems bold, and he has all right to brag about it as PS4 dominated last-gen against Xbox.

Yoshida did an interview with Gamesbeat during the Gamescom Latam. He was asked a question related to the last generation. Back in the day, during the E3 2013, Yoshida demonstrated the process of borrowing a PS4 game from a friend in a video (that video caused a lot of fuss in the industry).

A lot of people considered that a major comeback from Sony, as it caused the company to completely destroy the competition. So Yoshida was asked how Sony saw this moment.

I can answer the last part first. It was great to have a good competitor who let us win. We were just talking about our plans. People thought we were brilliant.

-Shuhei Yoshida

ps4 — PlayStation 4 Completely Dominated The Competition Last Generation

So, everyone thought that this plan was brilliant. The statement reeks of confidence, and you can see why. PlayStation 4 has sold more than twice the copies of Xbox One and that is a flex.

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That said, the completion Sony had is now gone, as the difference is again way too much. Xbox has also changed its strategy and moved toward multiplatform releases. While it does release exclusives from time to time, the quantity has been reduced. A lot of fans have also voted that they won’t be buying an Xbox next generation.

What do you think about Yoshida’s comment on beating Xbox last gen? Please share your thoughts in the comments section or join the Tech4Gamers official forums for discussion.

“There Is Only One Correct Price Tag For GTA 6 And That’s $69, Says Ori Director

May 14, 2025

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Nintendo and Microsoft have recently increased their game prices to $80, which has caused concerns among the fandom.
The fans now think that GTA 6 could cost even more due to its massive budget.
Ori director thinks that the price of this game shouldn’t be more than $69.

Everyone was concerned that GTA 6 would change the gaming industry for the worse with its price. Actually, many developers and publishers were simply waiting for Rockstar to release this game so they could follow the same pricing for their games.

However, Nintendo earlier this year announced that every Switch 2 game would cost $80, which is straight up absurd. Microsoft then followed suit, and now many fear that the price for GTA 6 would be even higher. That said, a famous personality in the gaming industry thinks that the game should cost $69.

Why it matters: $70 was already a pretty high price for a video game, but given the development cost and time is increasing after every release an increment was imminent.

The director of Ori and CEO of the Moon Studios, Thomas Mahler, recently tweeted on X that the price of GTA 6 should be $69. While he could have meant it as a joke, his intentions seem clear that it shouldn’t cost more than $69.99.

There is only one correct price tag for GTA VI, and that’s 69$. Come on @RockstarGames, you know I’m right.

-Thomas Mahler

The CEO of Moon Studios may be a little too optimistic here, as the trend for $80 games is already here. Two of the major publications have already announced that their games would cost $80, which, of course, the fans are not okay with.

However, we do understand that GTA 6 is going to sell like hot cakes on launch. So, even if the gaming giant priced GTA 6 at $69.99, the profit margins would be crazy. However, just increasing the price by $10 would tremendously increase the margins, and Rockstar wouldn’t want to miss out on that.

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What’s even scarier is that Rockstar can get away with even pricing the game higher than $80, and it would still sell.

What do you think about Mahler’s take on GTA 6’s price? Do you think this game should cost $70? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or join the official Tech4Gamers forums for discussion.

Borderlands 4 Team Praises Switch 2 As The “Perfect” And “Very Powerful” Platform

May 14, 2025

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Borderlands 4 is finally coming out later this year.
The Gearbox founder has recently talked about the development of the title on Switch 2, stating that it’s a very powerful console.
He further states that it is a perfect platform for Borderlands 4.

Borderlands 4 is one of the most anticipated releases of the year, and the title is just a few months away from its release.

As the title is set to release later in September, Gearbox has revealed new information about the title. Talking about the Switch 2 development for Borderlands 4, the developer stated that it is a very powerful and incredible platform to work on.

Why it matters: Not too long ago, CDPR also praised the platform, stating that Switch 2 is much better than other handhelds like Steam Deck or Rog Ally.

Recently, the official YouTube channel of Nintendo of America released a new video featuring the Gearbox founder Randy Pitchford, who stated that Switch 2 has been a joy to work with.

While Nintendo had usually fallen behind Microsoft and Sony in terms of technology, making it difficult for triple-A developers to work on, Randy Pitchford believes that Switch 2 is a very powerful platform.

It’s very powerful. It’s an incredible machine in a very tight form factor, and we love being on the bleeding edge with our graphics and the experience we’re creating.

-Randy Pitchford

Moreover, this will be the first time the Borderlands franchise will be released on the Switch platform with other consoles. Previously, the developers had to port the game to the console, but Switch 2 appears to be a perfect platform for the title.

We’re making Borderlands 4 for the Nintendo Switch 2 […] It’s pretty astonishing how perfect this platform is for Borderlands 4.

Borderlands 4 gameplay release date — Borderlands 4 Is finally Coming Out In September

It’s great to see that the triple-A developers are enjoying their time with the Switch 2, making the console a much better upgrade than the base model.

Recently, it was also suggested that Borderlands could cost $80 as the developers have doubled the budget of the previous entry in the franchise.

Latest Updates

Nonetheless, are you excited to play the new entry in the Borderlands franchise? Which platform are you going to pick to enjoy the title? Let us know in the comments or join Tech4Gamers forums.

Doom: The Dark Ages Features Some of The Fastest Loading of Any Game This Generation

May 14, 2025

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Doom: The Dark Ages features industry-leading load times across the board.
The game frequently loads levels in less than one second, immediately putting players back into the action after a death or a restarted checkpoint.
Despite the instant loading, the game also avoids the typical trend of stutters and hitches in modern AAA releases.

Following solid reviews, Doom: The Dark Ages is now available in early access. The game has impressed in practically every department so far, making it one of 2025’s biggest hits already.

In addition to making use of modern technology like ray-traced global illumination and ray-traced reflections, the game also delivers incredibly fast loading, which puts it among the fastest games this generation.

Why it matters: Previously, games like Spider-Man 2 boasted instant loading when switching characters. This was done through the PS5’s proprietary SSD technology, but id Software has achieved similar results across the board.

Digital Foundry’s latest analysis of Doom: The Dark Ages focuses on the game’s engine and core strengths. The team previously analyzed the console ports, highlighting how id Software optimized the experience for the PS5 and Xbox Series S|X.

As per the latest video, Doom: The Dark Ages is incredibly fast to load in assets and new levels. The video highlights that levels can often load in less than one full second, practically eliminating the need for loading screens.

According to the analysis, id Software’s efforts have led to the team achieving some of the fastest load times this generation. This comes in handy when restarting levels after an unexpected death.

Moreover, the game achieves this milestone without putting gamers through the frame-time spikes and stutters commonly found in modern AAA titles.

This testing highlights how Doom: The Dark Ages performs on a top-of-the-line PC, but results should be fairly similar for different types of SSDs on both PCs and consoles. For reference, id Software recommends the use of an NVME SSD, and the game certainly makes good use of this technology.

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on the game’s load times, or lack thereof? Let’s discuss in the comments and the Tech4Gamers Forums.

Helldivers 2 Sees Massive Player Count Resurgence on Steam Following Massive Update

May 13, 2025

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Helldivers 2 has finally seen a massive update earlier today.
Following the update, the title has seen a massive resurgence on Steam.
It has already seen a 3x jump in player count, reaching over 80K players.

Helldivers 2 was among the most popular and succesful game released last year. The title was also top-paid game on Steam by revenue in H1 2024.

Following a great start, Helldivers 2 lost its direction as the game reached mostly negative reviews on Steam. However, Arrowhead Games has released a recent update for the title, and it appears fans are finally enjoying the title.

Helldivers 2 has seen a massive resurgence on Steam, reaching over 80K players following the latest update.

Why it matters: It’s great to see a year-old title is doing much better on Steam despite many huge recent releases.

As seen in the above screenshot, Helldivers 2 has already reached 85K players in the last 24 hours. While the all-time peak of the game is much higher, the title is seeing a massive resurgence following the latest update.

Before the update, the game was averaging around 25K players, therefore, it looks like the game has already seen over 3x player count jump in just a few hours after the launch. The numbers are likely to increase in the coming time.

It’s great to see Arrowhead Game Studios is still supporting the title even after a year. The recent update is massive, introducing new enemy types, weapon customization features, and much more.

Not too long ago, the Helldivers 2 studio boss, Johan Pilestedt, stated that developers should take more risks with their games instead of taking safe bets. This further suggests that Arrowhead Game Studios isn’t afraid of trying new things as long as fans are happy with the results.

Latest Updates

Nonetheless, have you tried the latest update? If yes, did you enjoy it? Share your thoughts with us about the update in the comments or join the Tech4Gamers forum.