Just a few days apart, Battlefield 2042 and Farming Simulator 22 were released. However, it currently shows on Steam that players prefer to drive tractors rather than tanks.
This is what’s happening on Steam: Despite the many criticisms and issues, Battlefield 2042 still has tens of thousands of players on Steam. The current count is at 52,500 players in the last 24 hours (via steamcharts.com; November 29, 2021).
However, another game beats the new shooter with almost double the player count: Farming Simulator 22 boasts an impressive 94,700 players in the same timeframe. According to SteamDB, the “current players” are even more:
- Battlefield 2042 has 23,646 players at 11:30 AM on November 29
- Farming Simulator has 27,023 players
Although both games were released almost simultaneously, Farming Simulator is currently doing significantly better on Steam. Battlefield 2042 officially released on November 19, launching on Steam with over 100,000 players. The shooter is said to have had a better launch than its predecessor, but it lost almost 50% of its Steam players within 4 days.
Only 3 days later, on November 22, Farming Simulator 22 came out. It has managed to retain its player base without losses. You can find more on this from the colleagues at GameStar: Farming Simulator 22 is the best of its kind
Both games are also available on PlayStation and Xbox as well as through other PC platforms besides Steam. However, no statements can be made regarding player numbers here.
Over 90,000 players daily since release
Why is the simulator so popular? Farming Simulator arrives with 85% positive ratings, being classified as “very positive” on Steam. The scope is particularly well-received: from the first planting of your crops to mixing feed for livestock to processing into chocolate and more, everything is included.
Fans and veterans appreciate that the series does not make wild attempts but rather improves upon old and beloved systems. This allows the game to stay true to its core while still improving.
It’s no secret that simulators and peaceful games tend to be well-received. Even silly ideas like the Lawn Mowing Simulator have a certain fan base.
Is it because of Battlefield? The shooter, on the other hand, has attempted some new ideas such as specialists instead of classes or the Hazard Zone mode. These were immediately criticized by fans of the series.
The silent majority tends to prefer gaming over complaining or celebrating, yet Battlefield 2042 has struggled with many issues. Currently, for instance, a bug that renders smoke grenades completely useless is circulating. However, some significant bugs have already been fixed or are being addressed:
- Battlefield 2042 expert shows a “pretty big problem” – likely helping developers to solve it
- New update from Battlefield nerfs overpowered vehicles: “No longer tanks on crack, Hallelujah!”
- Battlefield 2042 finally aims to resolve its biggest issues, showing a roadmap with over 200 improvements
It’s normal for games to lose hype shortly after release. However, the technical state of Battlefield 2042 likely did not help maintain excitement in the long term. Other games also seize the moment to attack Battlefield’s position:
