In the world of gaming, there seems to be a trend of declaring games dead and buried as soon as their player numbers start to decline. This is evident in the case of games like Palworld and Helldivers 2, which have seen a decrease in concurrent users from their peak numbers. However, it is important to note that a decline in player numbers does not necessarily mean that a game is dead.
Both Palworld and Helldivers 2 had their moments of glory, with Palworld reaching a peak of 2 million players and Helldivers 2 boasting 450,000 players at its peak. While these numbers have decreased significantly since then, it does not mean that these games are no longer enjoyable or relevant.
The community manager of Palworld, Bucky, expressed his frustration on Twitter when a user suggested that these games were part of the „Age of meme-gaming“ where games burn bright and fast. Bucky questioned whether Palworld and Helldivers 2 could be considered meme games and emphasized that as long as people are enjoying the games and developers are continuing to work on them, it should be considered a win.
It is easy to get caught up in the statistics and declare a game dead based on a decrease in player numbers. However, it is important to look beyond the numbers and consider the overall player experience. Despite the decline in player numbers, both Palworld and Helldivers 2 still have a dedicated player base who continue to enjoy the games.
In the case of Helldivers 2, the game has seen a 24-hour peak of 54,000 players on Steam alone, while Palworld has around 39,000 players even after its most recent major update. While these numbers may be lower than their peak numbers, they are still impressive and show that the games are far from dead.
It is also worth noting that both Palworld and Helldivers 2 were unexpected successes with smaller development teams compared to AAA games. These games faced challenges such as server crashes and increased operating costs due to high player demand. Despite these challenges, the developers have continued to support the games and provide updates to keep players engaged.
In conclusion, it is important to look beyond the numbers and consider the overall player experience when determining the success of a game. Palworld and Helldivers 2 may have seen a decline in player numbers, but they are far from dead. As long as players continue to enjoy the games and developers continue to support them, these games will continue to thrive in their own right.