Destiny 2’s monthly PC player count is at its highest since the release of the game’s Shadowkeep content, which included a slew of new free player content, according to data from Steam Charts. This high number may come as a surprise given the mixed reception to the FPS game’s recent Lightfall expansion, which debuted just over a month ago.
The last time the average player count was above March 2023 was in October 2019, when Destiny 2 launched Shadowkeep, the New Light campaign, introducing thousands of new and returning players to brand new content in the game world.
Steam Charts shows that the average monthly player count in March 2023 was 135,102.3, which does not include the number of players who also started playing since the game launched on the Epic Games Store in August 2022. October 2019 saw 165,307.8 Guardians don their gear and begin exploring the game’s Shadowkeep expansion and its wealth of additional content. While Steam Charts monthly counts aren’t a completely accurate method of comparison due to the nature of weekly game resets causing more updates some months than others, it still gives the public a great overview of the game. overall game activity. players in the game.
The Lightfall expansion suffers from mixed reviews, with most ranging between six and seven out of ten on PC and console. People criticized the campaign and disappointed players by not providing additional information on some of the burning questions they faced while looking to explore Neomuna in Destiny 2 Season 20. However, some suggested that the high player count was due to a massive numbering push. around game expansion and ongoing, seasonal content, like the Destiny 2 Vexcalibur Exotic secret quest that surfaced in the weeks after Lightfall released.
Lightfall also suffered from numerous player complaints related to the game’s difficulty, leading the developers to lower the game’s Legendary difficulty by up to 33% in some cases.
Still, with regular updates and tweaks, Bungie quickly addressed most player concerns. As a result, it appears players are ignoring the perceived lackluster campaign experience and instead returning to the game to enjoy Destiny 2 Lightfall’s various new Exotic quests, battling for limited rewards such as The Immortal (Adept), which is quickly become a top weapon. in PvP and participate in activities like Destiny 2 Iron Banner, which returns three times a season and starts again this week. Some may also credit the game’s Root of Nightmares raid, as players found its contest mode format relatively easy compared to past raids, leading many players to try their hand at an otherwise unsuccessful experience they would have chosen to. ‘explore.
Whatever the reasons, it’s clear that even a lackluster campaign couldn’t keep players from coming back to enjoy the continuously updated content that draws players into the multiplayer game in the first place. Perhaps the fact that its low story and $70 expansion price didn’t turn players away speaks to the strength of the core gameplay loop and its overall merit as a live service game. healthy.