Report: Thanks to Xbox Game Pass, this 2023 fighting game just got a 34,744% player count boost
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is making something of an Xbox Game Pass-fueled comeback.
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What you need to know
Last week, the 2D beat ‘em up brawler Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 arrived on Microsoft’s buffet-styleXbox Game Passservice, and according to a new report, the game has seen a huge increase in players on Xbox since that July 3 debut. Specifically, data shows that there’s been a 34,744% player count climb, which is a huge leap for thefighting game.
The report comes fromTrueAchievements, which identified the dramatic player count increase using gameplay information from over 2.4 million Xbox accounts collected byGameInsights. Notably, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 made 19th place last week in thetop 40 Xbox gameplay chartthat TrueAchievements regularly updates with this data, which is impressive for a game that was struggling to find success before coming to Game Pass.
Indeed, TrueAchievements reports that the brawler was 1,628th in themost-played Xbox games listin the week prior to July 3, andSteamDB datashows that it typically only averages about 30-50 players at peak hours on Valve’s PC gaming platform. There’s even been a notable player increase on Steam after the game went on Game Pass, though, which suggests some are returning to it to crossplay with the fighter’s new Xbox and Microsoft Store players.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is an arcade-style fighting game from Fair Play Labs and GameMill Entertainment that features a variety of iconic Nickelodeon cartoon characters from franchises like SpongeBob SquarePants, Jimmy Neutron, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Rocko’s Modern Life, and others. It launched in November 2023 to very positive reviews from critics, and is available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.
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Most praised the game for its deeper combos, more fluid gameplay, and smoother performance compared tothe original 2021 gamethat was poorly received by reviewers and fans alike. Perhaps the reputation of the first title contributed to the sequel’s pre-Game Pass decline; I’m sure launching soon afterMortal Kombat 1didn’t help, either.
The game’s $49.99 price tag is also a noteworthy barrier-to-entry, especially with the incredibly similar MultiVersus being free-to-play (albeit with forms of aggressive in-game monetization). Now that Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is on Game Pass, though, it can be circumvented with a subscription.
Analysis: A reminder of the good Game Pass does
There’s been a lot of negative talk about Xbox Game Pass,PC Game Pass, andXbox Game Pass Ultimatein the wake ofrecently announced changes and price increases, but a game like Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 enjoying a five-figure percentage jump in player count after coming to it is a strong reminder of the good it does for gamers and developers alike. The service often skyrockets the visibility of smaller projects like this one, and its affordable monthly rates give players an opportunity to enjoy games they might not have the budget to try otherwise.
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Whether Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 will hold onto its newfound audience or not remains to be seen. Even if it doesn’t, though, it’s important to remember that Game Pass gave it a strong second chance — a chance it potentially wouldn’t ever have otherwise.
Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he’s been an avid fan since childhood. He’s been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you’ll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he’s not writing or gaming, there’s a good chance he’s either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once.Follow him on X(Twitter).
