The cooperative action game Warhammer: Vermintide 2 was released nearly a year ago. Since then, much has happened, with DLCs and patches being added, and now we are expecting the first expansion. But how has Vermintide 2 actually developed and what is the current state of the game?
What is Vermintide 2? Warhammer: Vermintide 2 was released on March 8, 2018. The game is a sequel to the popular predecessor that thrilled many fans and was known for its difficulty.
Vermintide 2 takes place in the fantasy universe of the Warhammer franchise and features elves, dwarves, magic, and inquisition. As part of Warhammer, Vermintide 2 also boasts massive blood, body parts, and brutality. Fantasy for adults.
Until shortly after the release, the game enjoyed great popularity and was well received by fans. Already in July 2018, Vermintide 2 was even ported to Xbox One.
How has Vermintide 2 developed?
Here are the player numbers: According to the stats page steamcharts, Vermintide 2 has lost players twice since its release. The first time it lost players immediately after release, which is common for almost every game.
The second time Vermintide 2 lost players in September 2018, shortly after the DLC “Shadows over Bögenhafen” was released.
Nevertheless, the player numbers remain stable. Since the second drop, an average of between 3000 and 5000 users play with maximum player counts of nearly 9000 players simultaneously, only on Steam. This is in addition to the players from Xbox One.
This is what the reviews say: Players still find Vermintide 2 to be “mostly positive” according to current reviews on Steam, with 70% positive ratings in recent reviews.
The greatest praise goes to the gameplay. Vermintide 2 is simply fun for many players, even though it can be really tough at higher difficulty levels. Even critics praise the gameplay. The great graphics, the setting, and the continuous development are also positively noted by most fans.
Basically, Vermintide 2 is a really successful game. It takes the strengths of its predecessor almost one-to-one and introduces many improvements (e.g., abilities and professions for each character, more and varied enemies, boss fights, improved loot system).
SirCharles on Steam
The greatest criticism is directed at some features that worked better in Vermintide (1). Players are primarily annoyed by the grind and the luck needed to obtain a weapon according to their preferences.
What’s in the first expansion
Currently, Vermintide 2 is back on the lips of many former players, as the first official expansion has been announced: Winds of Magic. Winds of Magic is set to be released in summer 2019 and will bring many features:
- new enemies, the Beastmen, with their own elite and special units
- a new difficulty level and higher level cap
- a new game mode “Winds of Magic”, through which missions become increasingly difficult
- 5 new weapon types, one for each class
The expansion even has its own shop page on Steam. The Winds of Magic and the Beastmen seem to take center stage. According to PCGamer, whose author was able to play the expansion early, the Beastmen significantly change the gameplay.
They come with archers and spear throwers, forcing players to fight at a new, different range. The elite unit is rampaging bulls and the special unit is banner bearers that buff surrounding enemies. Their totems strengthen other enemies and present players with the problem of having to rethink strategies when hordes attack.
Will you take another look at Vermintide 2 with Winds of Magic?
For Warhammer fantasy fans, there’s even more. A new Diablo alternative has been announced:
