Space Marine 2 Max Player Count Proves It Can Never Beat Helldivers 2

As co-op horde shooters that debuted in 2024, it’s expected for Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 and Helldivers 2 to be considered natural rivals or, at the very least, to be in some kind of friendly competition.

Sure, you could say that each game has its strengths and offers a particular experience, making them both equally enjoyable. However, once you take a look at Space Marine 2‘s player count, it’s crystal clear that the game is bound to live under the shadow of Helldivers 2.

Space Marine 2 Doesn’t Match to Arrowhead’s Legendary Horde Shooter

Following its release on September 9 2024, Space Marine 2 managed to become a smash hit on Valve’s service, reaching the highest concurrent players ever recorded for a Warhammer 40k title on the platform. Both long-time fans and new gamers have been loving the title so far.

According to SteamDB, the sequel managed to reach a massive peak of 225,690 concurrent players within just the first 24 hours. That’s not all, though; nearly 60,000 out of 71,00 Steam reviews are positive, showing that it has left its mark among the gaming community.

However, the game’s high numbers simply pale when compared to its biggest rival on the market, Helldivers 2. If you’re out of the loop, the Arrowhead title managed to peak at a concurrent player milestone of 458,649. Despite its downward spiral in recent weeks, the game is still strong and has shipped millions of copies around the globe.

So, why hasn’t the Space Marine sequel managed to achieve the same success as its competitor? Well, it could be down to the price tag. Space Marine 2 begins at a cost of $59,00, which is quite steep considering the current global economic situation.

On the other hand, Helldivers 2 debuted at a price tag of $39.99. It’s still a high price for a game, but it was a cheaper entry barrier and made the game more accessible to a broader audience. It certainly contributed to the title’s sales volumes and massive player engagement.

Saber Interactive Still has a Chance its Game

There’s no denying the fact that Arrowhead has massively fumbled with Helldivers 2‘s post-launch content roadmap, and that’s exactly where the Space Marine sequel seeks to strike in.

According to the game’s Year One Battle Plan, it will receive four seasons spread across 2024 and 2025. The first season will arrive in September, adding ultrawide support, private PvE lobbies, and the much-awaited Battle Barge Sparring Arena for anyone.

The rest of the upcoming seasons will follow the same exact format, featuring new game modes, weapons, missions, and other exciting in-game content for free while rewarding Season Pass owners with cosmetics.

The featured chapters for the third and fourth seasons still haven’t been announced, but the paid content for Season 2 will center around the Dark Angles.

The game’s post-launch roadmap doesn’t state that only loyalist groups will get skins, so there’s a chance for Chaos-aligned chapters to unlock cosmetic packs in the future as well. If the developers can carry forward this momentum, it might end up standing as a challenger to Arrowhead’s title in the near future.

With that said, are you enjoying Space Marine 2? If so, let us know in the comments below.