Previously: Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, Season 5, Season 6 and Season 7 (plus How large are squadrons?)
On each graph, points are on the Y-axis, and squadron position on the leaderboard is on the X-axis. Both scales are logarithmic. The light grey line (diamond marker) is the numbers for the previous season, the dark grey line (triangle marker) is the numbers for the same season last year (season 1), and all stats are PC only. As in previous seasons, the approximate power-law distribution continues, allowing estimates of total activity to be made without spending too long reading the boards.
Anti Xeno (114 pages)
Winners: Black Birds Squadron with ~17% of all points. Anti-Xeno Initiative and Vampyr Ponys take the other trophies.
The Thargoids returned in force in the Pleiades and Witch Head half way through this season, and AX activity is back up to the season 4/5 levels when they were last active, in one of the busiest AX seasons yet. The Black Birds Squadron go straight in at the top of the board to win their first trophy. With this week's AX CZs seeming more active and tougher to clear than before, it's possible that Season 9 will be even higher.
Combat (1092 pages)
Winners: Anti-Xeno Initiative (2nd time) with ~1% of all points. Dark Enterprise and Lavigny's Legion take the other trophies.
A further increase in the number of active combat squadrons, breaking 1000 pages for the first time. Activity in the top 1000 is similar to both last season and season 1, although the higher number of squadrons means total activity is slightly higher.
CQC (88 pages)
Winners: The Winged Hussars (4th time) with ~15% of all points. CQC Discord and The Morgue take the other trophies
The same winners, in the same order, as season 7. The Morgue's only member now has Elite rank and has stepped back a little, so there may be some room for variation next season. Overall activity is a bit up on last season, and a bit down on season 1, though at 88 pages this season ties with season 6 for the most participating squadrons.
Exploration (1222 pages)
Winners: Anti-Xeno Initiative with ~2% of all points. Distant Worlds and Distant Worlds 2 take the other trophies.
AXI take a break from their normal activity to take a Gold trophy in another category, while two Distant Worlds squadrons take the other places - Distant Worlds 2 winning its first trophy since season 1. Total activity is slightly up on last season outside the top 10, though somewhat down on season 1 throughout the top 1000 - the impact of the Distant Worlds expedition and the generally new exploration content in season 1 likely explaining the drop. Total active squadron numbers continue to grow.
Powerplay (56 pages)
Winners: Federal Liberal Command (5th time) with ~11% of all points. Federal Republic Command and Aisling Wing Command take the other trophies.
Back to the default top-3 for Powerplay, with FLC, FRC and AWC in that order for the third season (the others were seasons 1 and 6). Total activity is generally a bit higher than both last season and this time last year, with 56 pages setting a new record for Powerplay-active squadrons [1]
Trade (1167 pages)
Winners: Dark Enterprise (4th time) with ~2% of all points. Enigma Dyson Syndicate and Anti-Xeno Initiative take the other trophies.
Season 8 is roughly half before and half after the changes to mining (less profitable) and trade (more profitable) introduced in the 3.6 release. It doesn't seem to have made a lot of difference so far - it's still the second most profitable season after Season 6, and as with the other boards, yet more squadrons overall. Season 9 will be the first full season entirely under the new economy, so we'll see if that makes any difference, and if so, what sort.
Other comments
Dark Enterprise move up to 10 trophies, to overtake the Winged Hussars (though TWH for now retain the record for most distinct categories), while AXI gain their 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th trophies to become the only squadron so far to win trophies on four leaderboards in a single season (beating their own previous record of three in season 6)
The total number of active squadrons continues to increase - it's not a surprise that the total number of squadrons does, of course, but this suggests that there's not too much attrition with previously active players dropping out entirely. Activity levels in the top 1000 squadrons are also generally stable or increasing on all leaderboards, with the exception of Exploration where the lack of several-thousand-player months-long expeditions is noticeable (though, of course, also the usual state for the game!).
[1] Noting that, unlike the other leaderboards, not only does someone in the squadron have to do Powerplay activity, but they have to do it for the same Power as the squadron is aligned to - without this restriction the board would likely be somewhat larger.
On each graph, points are on the Y-axis, and squadron position on the leaderboard is on the X-axis. Both scales are logarithmic. The light grey line (diamond marker) is the numbers for the previous season, the dark grey line (triangle marker) is the numbers for the same season last year (season 1), and all stats are PC only. As in previous seasons, the approximate power-law distribution continues, allowing estimates of total activity to be made without spending too long reading the boards.
Anti Xeno (114 pages)
Winners: Black Birds Squadron with ~17% of all points. Anti-Xeno Initiative and Vampyr Ponys take the other trophies.
The Thargoids returned in force in the Pleiades and Witch Head half way through this season, and AX activity is back up to the season 4/5 levels when they were last active, in one of the busiest AX seasons yet. The Black Birds Squadron go straight in at the top of the board to win their first trophy. With this week's AX CZs seeming more active and tougher to clear than before, it's possible that Season 9 will be even higher.
Combat (1092 pages)
Winners: Anti-Xeno Initiative (2nd time) with ~1% of all points. Dark Enterprise and Lavigny's Legion take the other trophies.
A further increase in the number of active combat squadrons, breaking 1000 pages for the first time. Activity in the top 1000 is similar to both last season and season 1, although the higher number of squadrons means total activity is slightly higher.
CQC (88 pages)
Winners: The Winged Hussars (4th time) with ~15% of all points. CQC Discord and The Morgue take the other trophies
The same winners, in the same order, as season 7. The Morgue's only member now has Elite rank and has stepped back a little, so there may be some room for variation next season. Overall activity is a bit up on last season, and a bit down on season 1, though at 88 pages this season ties with season 6 for the most participating squadrons.
Exploration (1222 pages)
Winners: Anti-Xeno Initiative with ~2% of all points. Distant Worlds and Distant Worlds 2 take the other trophies.
AXI take a break from their normal activity to take a Gold trophy in another category, while two Distant Worlds squadrons take the other places - Distant Worlds 2 winning its first trophy since season 1. Total activity is slightly up on last season outside the top 10, though somewhat down on season 1 throughout the top 1000 - the impact of the Distant Worlds expedition and the generally new exploration content in season 1 likely explaining the drop. Total active squadron numbers continue to grow.
Powerplay (56 pages)
Winners: Federal Liberal Command (5th time) with ~11% of all points. Federal Republic Command and Aisling Wing Command take the other trophies.
Back to the default top-3 for Powerplay, with FLC, FRC and AWC in that order for the third season (the others were seasons 1 and 6). Total activity is generally a bit higher than both last season and this time last year, with 56 pages setting a new record for Powerplay-active squadrons [1]
Trade (1167 pages)
Winners: Dark Enterprise (4th time) with ~2% of all points. Enigma Dyson Syndicate and Anti-Xeno Initiative take the other trophies.
Season 8 is roughly half before and half after the changes to mining (less profitable) and trade (more profitable) introduced in the 3.6 release. It doesn't seem to have made a lot of difference so far - it's still the second most profitable season after Season 6, and as with the other boards, yet more squadrons overall. Season 9 will be the first full season entirely under the new economy, so we'll see if that makes any difference, and if so, what sort.
Other comments
Dark Enterprise move up to 10 trophies, to overtake the Winged Hussars (though TWH for now retain the record for most distinct categories), while AXI gain their 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th trophies to become the only squadron so far to win trophies on four leaderboards in a single season (beating their own previous record of three in season 6)
The total number of active squadrons continues to increase - it's not a surprise that the total number of squadrons does, of course, but this suggests that there's not too much attrition with previously active players dropping out entirely. Activity levels in the top 1000 squadrons are also generally stable or increasing on all leaderboards, with the exception of Exploration where the lack of several-thousand-player months-long expeditions is noticeable (though, of course, also the usual state for the game!).
[1] Noting that, unlike the other leaderboards, not only does someone in the squadron have to do Powerplay activity, but they have to do it for the same Power as the squadron is aligned to - without this restriction the board would likely be somewhat larger.
