ARC Raiders is attracting around 185,000 players, while Helldivers 2 has about 61,000, based on a Tech-Insider comparison. That’s roughly a 3-to-1 difference between Arrowhead’s co-op shooter and its newer extraction-shooter competitor.
The Tech-Insider headline doesn’t specify if these numbers represent daily peaks, concurrent counts, or something else. So, consider them directional until we get more clarity on the methodology. These figures also don’t align with our own Steam data, which shows Helldivers 2 had 39,046 concurrent players at the time of writing. That’s about 64% of the 61K figure, suggesting that the 61K number likely reflects a peak instead of a live count.
Even if we look at the lower live figure, the gap remains significant. Comparing 185K to 39,046 gives a ratio of about 4.7 to 1. Helldivers 2 launched on February 8, 2024, and Sony Interactive Entertainment sells it for $39.99 on Steam. A game in its third year with tens of thousands of concurrent players is still doing well by most metrics. This comparison highlights where player interest is currently focused.
Arrowhead isn’t just sitting back, either. Recent reports indicate a steady stream of new content, including a Warbond that adds three new rifles on October 20, and a free first-person mode that GAMINGbible reported on October 11. Both updates aim to engage the core audience that keeps the game’s player count above 39K. However, neither has yet shown a clear impact on player concurrency, and we don’t have post-update player data to evaluate their effects.
On the long-term side, reception remains strong. Helldivers 2 boasts an 80% positive rating across 824,497 Steam reviews, indicating broad satisfaction with the game over its lifespan. However, recent player sentiment tells a different story, which the community section below will discuss.
| ARC Raiders players (Tech-Insider figure) | ~185,000 |
| Helldivers 2 players (Tech-Insider figure) | ~61,000 |
| Helldivers 2 live Steam players | 39,046 |
| Helldivers 2 Steam reviews | 80% positive (824,497 reviews) |
| Helldivers 2 price on Steam | $39.99 |
Community Pulse
Recent community sentiment leans negative. Of the 10 signals we tracked, the overall impression is “mostly negative.” Many reviews echoed similar complaints. One negative Steam reviewer expressed frustration, saying: “Arrowhead wake up and balance your game around fun instead of your dumb stupid grunt fantasy.” This criticism focuses on difficulty and balance rather than technical issues, reflecting a player base that desires a different power curve. While ten signals is a small sample, it does suggest a prevailing mood.
What To Watch
- Post-Warbond player counts: Keep an eye on whether the October 20 rifle release boosts Helldivers 2’s concurrency above 39,046.
- Balance changes from Arrowhead: Since reviewer frustration centers on balance, any patch notes that address difficulty or weapon power will likely indicate a response.
- Clearer ARC Raiders data: Confirmation on whether the 185K figure is a peak or a live count will clarify the durability of the 3-to-1 gap.
Alex Mercer
Alex Mercer is the Gaming News Editor at Explosion.com with over 8 years of experience covering the gaming industry. He previously wrote for several gaming publications and has attended E3, Gamescom, and The Game Awards as press. Alex specializes in breaking news coverage, studio analysis, and tracking industry trends. When not writing, he's grinding ranked matches in Valorant or exploring the latest RPG releases.
