Helldivers Archives

Winsage

July 4, 2025

Microsoft’s enshittification of Xbox, Surface, and even Windows itself, are by design — with greed and corner-cutting replacing innovation

Microsoft announced 9,000 layoffs, bringing the total for the year to over 15,300, including cuts within Xbox. The layoffs are attributed to unrealistic fiscal expectations set by CFO Amy Hood, creating an environment of fear and uncertainty. There is a perception that these layoffs are part of a broader shift towards artificial intelligence, with Microsoft executives and shareholders reportedly resenting the investment in Activision-Blizzard. The company plans to invest billions in new AI training centers globally, raising concerns about the impact on its core gaming and consumer products. Microsoft’s AI products have faced criticism, and the company has been accused of losing sight of the human element in its consumer businesses. The recent layoffs have left employees feeling uncertain about their futures, and there is a growing sentiment that Microsoft lacks a coherent mission or ethos, prioritizing short-term gains over long-term innovation.

AppWizard

July 2, 2025

‘Patient gaming’ only gets more attractive when $70 games get heavy Steam sale discounts just months after launch

PC gaming is experiencing strong sales, with discounts influencing purchasing decisions. Games often see price drops of up to 50% within seven months of release. For example, Avowed is currently priced at .89 after a 33% discount during the Steam Summer Sale. Notable discounts include Assassin's Creed Shadows, reduced by .50 since March, and Oblivion Remastered, which has also dropped in price since its April launch. The Patient Gamers subreddit, with over 750,000 subscribers, focuses on games at least a year old, allowing discussions on titles like Cyberpunk 2077 without the urgency of new releases. The gaming industry employs FOMO tactics, encouraging pre-orders for special editions, as early sales are crucial for a game's long-term success. Some suggest launching games at lower prices instead of relying on pre-order bonuses, as seen with Titanfall 2, which dropped in price shortly after release. Titles like Helldivers 2 and other recent releases have successfully launched at lower price points, indicating a shift towards value in the market. As competition grows, particularly with remastered classics and indie games like Peak, the pricing landscape is changing. Recommendation algorithms on social media are promoting personalized discovery of games. Steam sales provide newcomers with access to established titles at low prices, such as Civilization 6, demonstrating the ongoing appeal of older games amidst new releases.

AppWizard

June 30, 2025

‘The censorship is a step too far’: Ready or Not is getting review bombed after developers sanitise the game to adhere to stricter console standards

Ready or Not is shifting its gameplay approach by limiting player-induced dismemberment, which has led to mixed reactions from the community. Some players view this change as unnecessary censorship and a compromise of the game's essence, expressing disappointment that the developers prioritize console compatibility over fixing existing bugs. There is significant backlash, with accusations of misleading early access backers and concerns that the changes dilute the game's dark atmosphere. This dissatisfaction has resulted in negative reviews and calls for accountability from the developers. The future of the game remains uncertain as the developers may focus on a console release amid the criticism.

AppWizard

June 30, 2025

Helldivers 2 Drops Free PS5, PC DLC for Existing Players

Arrowhead Game Studios released a free DLC for Helldivers 2, called the ‘Pillars of Freedom’ commemorative cape, for PS5 and PC players. This release responds to backlash over Sony's initial requirement for PC players to create a PSN account to access the game, which caused discontent among players in regions without PSN support. Following the uproar, Sony removed the PSN account requirement and is lifting region locks for its PC games. The commemorative cape is being automatically delivered to all players as a gesture of appreciation for their commitment to the game.

AppWizard

June 28, 2025

I’ve spent six hours exploring the Steam Summer Sale with our Games Editor, and these are the 10 best games on discount I’d recommend so far

The Steam Summer Sale is currently ongoing, offering discounts for a limited 14-day period. Notable titles include: - Grounded: Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, priced at .99 / £17.49, currently at a 50% discount. - Cult of the Lamb: Developed by Massive Monster, priced at .49 / £9.74, currently at its lowest price. - Disco Elysium - The Final Cut: Developed by ZA/UM, priced at .99 / £3.49, currently at a 90% discount. - Cyberpunk 2077: Developed by CD Projekt Red, priced at .99 / £17.49, now at a historical low. - Little Nightmares 2: Developed by Tarsier Studios, priced at .99 / £2.49, now at a historically low price. - Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy: Developed by Vicarious Visions, priced at .99 / £3.49. - Thank Goodness You're Here!: Developed by Coal Supper, priced at .99 / £10.39, with the largest reduction yet. - Borderlands 3: Developed by Gearbox Software, priced at .99 / £2.49. - Guardians of the Galaxy: Developed by Eidos-Montreal, priced at .99 / £5.04, now at a new low price. - Dead Space: Developed by EA Motive, priced at .99 / £9.99, now at a historic low. Honorable mentions include Control Ultimate Edition, Forza Horizon 5, Elden Ring, Blasphemous, REPO, Undertale, Resident Evil 4, Stardew Valley, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Helldivers 2.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

Newzoo: Top 20 PC/Console Games of May 2025 by Revenue and MAU

In May, three new titles entered the revenue rankings: Elden Ring Nightreign (4th place), DOOM: The Dark Ages (9th), and FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time (20th). Elden Ring Nightreign sold over 3.5 million copies across six markets. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 returned to the top 10, while Destiny 2 jumped 30 positions to 11th place due to pre-orders for its expansion. On PlayStation, F1 25 debuted at 15th place, and on Xbox, RoadCraft entered at 18th. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was not listed on Xbox due to Game Pass availability. On PC, Helldivers II returned to the top 20 at 19th place after an update. For Nintendo Switch, FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time was the only newcomer, with ten Nintendo titles remaining in the top 20. In MAU rankings, DOOM: The Dark Ages reached 16th place, and Elden Ring Nightreign appeared in the top 20 on PC. Star Wars: Battlefront II re-entered the top 20 due to promotional discounts, and Helldivers II climbed to 14th place in MAU rankings.

AppWizard

June 17, 2025

CHARTS: Stellar Blade debuts at No.3 on Steam

Stellar Blade is the third highest-grossing game on Steam for the week ending June 17th, having sold over one million copies on PC and contributing to total sales exceeding three million units across all platforms. Counter-Strike 2 is the top title on Steam, followed by PUBG: Battlegrounds in second place. Dune: Awakening has dropped to fourth, while Steam Deck remains in fifth. Elden Ring Nightreign is sixth, Rematch has risen to seventh, Helldivers 2 is eighth, Five Nights at Freddy's: Secret of the Mimic is ninth, and Marvel Rivals is tenth.

AppWizard

June 17, 2025

‘Stellar Blade’ Rockets To A Million PC Sales In Three Days

Stellar Blade achieved sales of one million copies within three days of its PC launch, contributing to total sales of 3 million since its release in April 2024, a 50% increase. Approximately 58% of sales occurred in China, where the game is priced lower than in the U.S. The game reached a peak concurrent player count of over 190,000 and received a 92% rating on Steam and an 86 score on Metacritic. SHIFTUP plans further updates and is considering a sequel for 2027, with no current plans to bring the game to Xbox. Sony is focusing on releasing major AAA titles on PC, while multiplayer games are launched simultaneously on PC.

AppWizard

June 17, 2025

Sony Rolling Back Controversial First-Party Games Policy

Sony is reportedly lifting regional restrictions on its first-party PC games available on Steam, which previously required a PlayStation Network (PSN) account, limiting access for gamers in over 100 countries. Titles affected include God of War Ragnarok, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and Helldivers 2. The recent release of Days Gone Remastered, which did not impose regional restrictions, suggests a broader policy shift. The PSN requirement has faced backlash, notably during the launch of Helldivers 2, leading to controversy and the dismissal of the game’s community manager. Additionally, the title Stellar Blade was initially unavailable in 132 countries due to the PSN requirement, but this restriction was lifted after discussions with Sony. An official statement from Sony regarding the removal of the PSN requirement has yet to be issued.

AppWizard

June 16, 2025

Stellar Blade now Sony’s biggest single-player game on Steam

Stellar Blade has become the most successful single-player game from Sony on Steam, achieving a peak of 192,078 concurrent players. It has outperformed other notable titles such as The Last of Us Part 1 (39,496 players), The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered (30,690 users), God of War (83,529 users), and God of War Ragnarök (35,615 users). While Helldivers 2 holds the record for PlayStation-launched games on Steam with 458,709 concurrent users, it is a multiplayer game. Prior to its release on June 11th, Stellar Blade ranked as the sixth highest-grossing game on Steam in pre-orders. Herman Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, mentioned a cautious strategy for expanding first-party titles to the PC market. Sony has also faced challenges, including layoffs at its Bend Studio after canceling an unannounced live-service title.