Warhammer 40,000: Darktide has experienced a significant player boost following the launch of its first new class, the Adeptus Arbites. 
However, complaints about monetization have persisted, especially after the developer, Fatshark, released a version of the Arbitrator’s default helmet with its visor raised for a price of $5.
This week’s Battle for Tertium update, which introduced the new Adeptus Arbites DLC, has reworked the game’s core experience, adding a clearer narrative focus to the co-op, first-person melee-shooter hybrid. Players now follow a linear campaign with new mission debriefs and embedded cinematics, designed to ease in newcomers and gradually unlock features that were previously gated by character level.
But the real draw for veteran players was the Adeptus Arbites class itself. Priced at $11.99, the DLC has not only reignited interest among those who have stuck with the game since its rocky launch, but also enticed lapsed players to return. The results were noticeable: Darktide hit a peak concurrent player count of over 43,000 on Steam, the highest it has been in over two years, though these numbers don’t account for console players.
Rodrigue Delrue, Fatshark’s Product Marketing Manager, confirmed the uptick in player engagement across all platforms but did not provide specific numbers. “We’ve seen a high level of engagement across all platforms, even if we don’t have exact numbers to share at this time,” Delrue commented. “What’s important is that the community remains active and passionate, and we’re incredibly thankful for that.”
However, despite the positive reception of the new class, a controversy over monetization has remained. The Adeptus Arbites DLC launched alongside a new wave of premium cosmetics, which can be purchased with the in-game currency, Aquilas. One particular item has sparked outrage: a helmet with its visor raised. This cosmetic, which costs 900 Aquilas (roughly $5), is functionally identical to the default helmet, except for the visor’s position. Some players have criticized this, arguing that the visor-up option should have been included by default or made available through a simple button press.
One player summed it up with, “We’ve reached the current peak of Fatshark greed.” Another fan quipped, “I’m just glad the visor up isn’t default and they make you pay for down.” These comments reflect a growing frustration with the game’s pricing model, particularly for cosmetics that don’t significantly alter gameplay.
When asked about the complaints, Delrue defended the studio’s need to sell items to fund ongoing development, explaining that “cosmetic pricing is always a balancing act.” He acknowledged the community’s feedback, emphasizing that it helps the studio understand what players value and how to better approach monetization moving forward. “As a live service game, we want to keep working on the game while respecting what players feel is fair value,” Delrue said.
Looking ahead, Fatshark remains committed to supporting Darktide. Delrue pointed to the studio’s continued work on the older game Vermintide as proof of their long-term dedication to their titles. He also teased more content, including additional classes, confirming that “players can naturally expect ongoing support, including new classes and additional free content as the game continues to evolve.”