Helldivers 2 showcased the highlights and challenges of the video game in 2024.

Helldivers 2 may not be my favorite game of 2024, but it certainly represents this year for the video game industry in the best way possible. This live service game, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony, made its debut in February and quickly became an unavoidable phenomenon for several months. Helldivers 2 is positioned as one of the best-selling titles of 2024 and, according to SteamDB, has reached peaks of over 20,000 simultaneous players daily on PC. Its success clearly illustrates the growing acceptance of live service video games and how creativity and novelty continue to be essential for a game to succeed.

However, this year has been complicated for the industry. Both Helldivers 2 and Sony Interactive Entertainment have faced criticism that highlights the challenges all games must confront and how companies will not have an easy path just because their live service games do not become immediate hits. For this reason, Helldivers 2 will become the title I associate most with 2024, despite enjoying games like Astro Bot and Balatro more.

Regarding the positive aspects of Helldivers 2 in 2024, the industry's fascination with live service video games did not stop. Titles like Fortnite continue to excel, and Helldivers 2's success demonstrates that there is still room for new games of this kind to be introduced and become major successes. Sharing the experience of playing with others attracts more people to try the game. Convincing players to adopt a new live service game is the first big challenge, and the viral clips on platforms like X and TikTok helped achieve that. Once players experience the game for the first time, Helldivers 2 quickly manages to hook them. This happens not only through its progression system, similar to a battle pass, called Warbonds, but also through a meta-progression within the game that fosters a sense of community and collaboration.

Helldivers 2 has achieved an emotional investment and level of role-playing that are uncommon today, contributing to its appeal throughout the year. This game demonstrates that innovation can lead to success. The meta-progression and its chaotic nature, marked by its difficulty level and the possibility of friendly fire, generated memorable and unexpected moments. This year, many of the best games embraced originality, such as Astro Bot, which experimented with different gameplay mechanics in each level, Balatro, which cleverly combines poker and roguelikes, and UFO 50, a homage to retro art that few developers dare to create.

On the downside, Helldivers 2 also centralized some controversies. The game became embroiled in a culture war within the gaming sphere, with some players not fully understanding the satirical nature of its fascist universe. Additionally, there was discontent over decisions made by its developer and publisher. Arrowhead had to constantly respond to player complaints about weapon balance and other changes in updates. However, one incident in particular stood out more than others. In May, Sony attempted to force PC players to link a PlayStation Network account, which restricted access in some countries and frustrated those who chose Helldivers 2 on Steam to avoid dealing with Sony's account systems and DRM. This resulted in a massive backlash and affected the game's impeccable reputation.

This serves as a reminder that live service games are not infallible, and maintaining a positive conversation around such a success is a complicated challenge. The industry is increasingly redirecting resources towards live service games, but 2024 has shown the risks of this approach, especially with failures like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and XDefiant. While Helldivers 2 presents itself as a success in this realm, its post-launch issues highlight the complexities of managing a live service game once it is in the hands of players. Arrowhead and Sony have managed to handle the controversy, but other studios like Firewalk and Ubisoft San Francisco have not been as fortunate.

This industry focus on major live service games raises concerns. There is a risk that it may be assumed that everyone can replicate the success of Helldivers 2, when some are actually trying to emulate failures like Concord. Regardless, Helldivers 2 is a clear reflection of the current state of the video game industry in 2024. While there are positive aspects, there are also warning signs that I hope the industry will recognize and address quickly.