News article overviewNintendo Switch games overviewPlayStation 5 games overviewAll games overviewRead our Reviews
cover image $news_headline

HELLDIVERS 2 UNLEASHES INSANE SERVER SQUATTING

Feb 20, 2024 9:07 AM

Helldivers 2, the action-packed co-op shooter, is experiencing record-breaking concurrent player counts, which recently peaked at 411,359 on Steam. The game's popularity, however, is causing significant server issues leading to delayed rewards, matchmaking difficulties, and login problems. To combat these problems, the developers at Arrowhead Game Studios implemented a login queue, which, despite being a clear improvement over the previous system, has led to some players leaving their games running continuously to avoid being placed in the queue again – a trend discussed actively in the Helldivers community.

Developers have proposed an AFK timer as a potential solution to free up server space from inactive players. Arrowhead's Johan Pilestedt emphasized that resolving these issues isn't as simple as adding more servers, but rather optimizing backend code. Players can anticipate a new update, aimed at improving matchmaking and login times, to roll out soon for PC and PS5 platforms, though constant work will be required to address all problems fully. While the update won't fix everything, the studio is dedicated to iterative improvements.

For gamers looking to enjoy Helldivers 2 to its fullest, don't miss the game tips that can help you get acquainted with game mechanics not explicitly explained within the game itself.

Why are Helldivers 2 players leaving their game running, and what impact does it have?

Players are leaving their games running, sometimes overnight, to avoid the long login queue times due to server capacity issues. This leads to servers being filled with AFK players, exacerbating the problem by taking up server space and preventing active players from joining.

Helldivers 2 is the sequel to Helldivers, a top-down shooter developed by Arrowhead Game Studios that emphasizes teamwork and cooperative play. The original Helldivers was praised for its challenging gameplay and was released in 2015 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and later for PC. The sequel continues this tradition, offering players intense multiplayer sessions that demand strategic coordination and cooperation.



Jordan Keats avatar
Written by:

Jordan Keats

Jordan Keats is a former professional gamer turned journalist, whose competitive background gives them a unique perspective on esports and multiplayer games. Jordan's expertise in strategy and game mechanics is unmatched, offering readers a deeper understing.

Read more articles from: Jordan Keats

Follow us

Login or register to join the conversation
Stimpy Stimpy commented on: 2024-02-20 09:24:03
Looks like Helldivers 2 is really living up to its co-op shooter reputation with those impressive concurrent player counts, but the server issues are a bummer. The struggle to balance active players and AFK folks is a classic challenge for online games, but it's good to see the developers actively working on solutions to keep the community thriving.
Mr. Bison Mr. Bison commented on: 2024-02-20 09:18:03
The surge in Helldivers 2's player counts is fantastic, but the server issues are a real bummer. It's great to see the developers taking proactive steps, like the potential AFK timer, to balance out the player load and ensure a smooth gaming experience for everyone.
Sephiroth Sephiroth commented on: 2024-02-20 09:12:02
Looks like Helldivers 2 is experiencing both the highs and lows of popularity, with record-breaking player counts but also significant server issues. It's good to see the developers actively addressing the problems and working on solutions, though. Hopefully, the upcoming update will smooth things out for the eager players looking to dive into the action.
See the complete videogame news list