opinion: Insurgency: Sandstorm is reduced on Steam, but that’s not at all the main reason why it’s so worth it right now.
What does a good multiplayer shooter absolutely need? No question, free badass weapon skins of course, I know. But what it also definitely needs is an active community. Plato once asked provocatively: If an online server is not visited by anyone, is it really online?
Insurgency: Sandstorm is a fantastic shooter, one of the best I’ve played in years. But in terms of community, the game still has to put up with this (definitely historically proven) platonic existence question: The active player count usually bobs around somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 people.
That’s enough to find a game quickly, at least on Eastern European servers, but the people usually have it together. I don’t immediately get beaten up by my fellow players because I don’t yet have 200 hours of experience on the clock, but the tone is rough, demands quick familiarisation, forgives few mistakes.
This weekend, it’s loosening up. Insurgency: Sandstorm is down by half on Steam, player numbers double to around 4,000 to 5,000 people – and while that doesn’t sound like much in absolute terms, the difference is big.
What makes Insurgency so fantastic?
When Sale lands freshmen, your chances of ending up in reasonably balanced lobbies increase. Because if you disregard the nagging of impatient pros, Insurgency isn’t actually that hardcore.
Compared to Tarkov, Arma and the like, the matches are almost easy-going. Of course, without kill markers and with a ridiculously short time to kill and time to die, you have to be much more attentive, a good headset is a must, and team coordination is an essential bonus.
