The MMO shooter Planetside 2 is currently experiencing a second spring. So many players have never participated in a battle of the shooter, even its own world record has been broken.
What is the current status of Planetside 2? Since November of last year the MMO shooter has been experiencing a resurgence. This has now increased greatly with the release of the major Escalation update, so much so that even the Guinness World Record of Planetside 2 from the year 2015 has been broken. At that time, the shooter set the record for the most players in an FPS battle.
Back then, 1,158 players were participating in a battle simultaneously. As Executive Producer Andy Sites announced via Twitter, this number has been exceeded. On the continent of Esamir, on March 28, 1,283 players participated in a battle simultaneously.
A significant upswing for Planetside 2
What are the general player numbers like? According to Steamcharts, Planetside 2 has had 7,694 concurrent players in the past 30 days, and these are only the players who play via Steam. Console players on PS4, for example, are not included. Thus, the game has gained significant momentum again, even though the third part is already in the works.
What do the reviews say? Currently, on Steam, Planetside 2 has a rating of 86% in the past 30 days. Despite its age – the shooter was released in November 2012 – it feels modern and enjoyable.
- joeysoroka writes on Steam: “A fantastic first-person shooter. It deserves much more attention. Plus, it’s free, so there’s no reason not to check out the game.”
- OviD explains on Steam: “A fantastic and unique game. Although it can be intimidating and uncomfortable at times, joining a company in this game is a gift that never ceases to delight.”
The success has several reasons
Why is the MMO shooter currently so successful? Part of the current success is linked to the Corona crisis. Currently, more is being played, which can also be seen in Steam setting new records for the number of players online, as The Verge reports.
However, it is primarily the Escalation update that has generated such great interest in Planetside 2. Escalation makes battles even more intense and tactical. Among other things, these innovations include:
- With the Bastion Fleet Carrier, huge battleships come into play. You can attempt to shoot them down before they engage in battle.
- It is possible to create new “War Assets,” including the Bastion Fleet Carrier, shields, or a connection to an orbital satellite. This then fires at a location on the battlefield.
- New progression possibilities through loyalty levels using the currency Merits. With this, you can further improve yourself.
- You can find new teammates in the social hub Sanctuary.
If you also want to check out other multiplayer shooters, we can recommend some exciting titles for 2020.
