Do people still play For Honor?

As a long-time fan of For Honor since its 2017 release, I can definitively say there is still a passionate player base that logs on every day to experience the game‘s intense medieval combat. However, the numbers are far lower than For Honor‘s peak years.

Player counts down 85% from all-time high, yet 4-6k concurrent players

According to sites that track For Honor‘s player population across platforms:

• All-time peak players: 189,731 (Feb 2018 – Steam)
• Recent peak players: 27,051 (Dec 2022 – Steam)
• Average players last 30 days: 5,013 (Feb 2023 – SteamSpy)

So while the player base has dropped approximately 85% from its peak, there still remains a consistent community of around 4-6 thousand players active on a daily basis as of 2023.

To put this in context visually:

So by the raw numbers, only a small percentage of For Honor‘s peak audience remains today. Yet thousands still log in regularly.

Why did so many players leave For Honor?

Based on my experience and following community sentiments, there were a few key factors that contributed to declined interest after launch:

• Connectivity issues – For Honor‘s peer-to-peer connections made the gameplay extremely unstable for months until dedicated servers were introduced.
• Steep learning curve – The complex combat system was difficult for casual players to grasp.
• Balance & matchmaking problems – Less skilled players would get pitted against experts and stomped.

These early technical and design missteps forced away droves of players who may have otherwise stuck around. Though Ubisoft eventually addressed many of these problems, the damage was already done.

Why do ~5,000 die-hard fans still play daily?

While most moved on to other games, there is a dedicated subgroup who fell hard for For Honor‘s unique brand of tactical melee warfare and continue playing for a few key reasons:

• The strategic fighting mechanics offer immense depth with counters and combos to master across 30+ heroes.
• No other game captures For Honor‘s visceral medieval atmosphere.
• Players formed lasting friendships and communities from the shared love.

For these loyalists, no game has been able to replace the adrenaline-filled clashing of swords, axes, shields that For Honor delivers. The complex combat, immersive world, and connection with fellow fans keeps them coming back.

Ubisoft‘s ongoing support & plans for the future

In 2022, Ubisoft reaffirmed their commitment to keep For Honor alive:

"We‘re dedicated to keep supporting the game with new Heroes, maps, modes and gameplay updates. 2023 will be another great year for For Honor!"

Some key areas they are investing in:

• New playable warriors – Most recently the Babylonian demon queen Afeera launched
• Limited-time in-game events and battle passes with exclusive rewards to earn
• Continuous character balances and overall gameplay improvements

Additionally, Ubisoft announced they will support cross-progression across platforms later this year, making it easier for veterans to switch devices while retaining progression.

So while For Honor may never reach 2017 player heights again, Ubisoft‘s ongoing content and infrastructure investments signal plans to keep this medieval brawler going strong.

To conclude – yes, even 6 years after launch, For Honor still boasts an active community of thousands who faithfully defend the war banners of knights, vikings, and samurai.

The game has undoubtedly declined from its mainstream peak. Yet the loyal player base drawn to its distinctive combat and world continues playing every day. Backed by Ubisoft‘s commitment to support For Honor into the foreseeable future, this warrior tribe fights on.

While the masses left long ago, I still proudly count myself as one of the faithful warriors marching onto the battlefield each session. I relish crossing blades beside my stalwart allies. Our Viking clan will wage war in the name of Valhalla for years to come!

So if you crave intense, strategic medieval warfare – grab your sword, ax or katana and join us! Skål!