Helldivers 2 has repeatedly drawn the ire of many players with its update policy. In recent weeks, Steam reviews and forums have once again been flooded with criticism. Now the developers are responding.
Helldivers 2has a vibrant and engaged community: More than two years after its release, tens of thousands of players are still online daily on Steam, and gameplay clips are actively shared and discussed on Reddit.
But fans are also quick to speak up when they’re unhappy, and the mood is currently sour: With the release of the new mechs, balancing issues, and a disappointing Q&A session, the developers have once again put their foot in it. A blog post on Steam is now intended to put out the fire.
What is actually going on with Helldivers 2?
On Steam, thereviews from the last thirty dayspaint a grim picture:Only 35 percent of the roughly 11,000 reviews are positive, putting Helldivers 2 at amostly negative
. Overall, the shooter is still rated mostly positive
on Steam, but many fans are clearly unhappy right now. A look at the reviews shows that several issues are currently piling up:
The balancing is inconsistent. The weapons either feel incredible or are completely useless, with no consistency or clear purpose. Enemies are being buffed and player tools nerfed; every update feels like it’s undoing the previous one instead of building on it. […] The galactic war, which is supposed to define the game’s identity, barely feels alive anymore.
Known bugs remain in the game for months. […] The game is constantly being tweaked in favor of the AI factions, at the expense of fun and sometimes even playability. They focus on new, profit-boosting Warbonds before even finishing simple progression systems (why can’t I change the sight on my pistol?).
I would love to talk about all the fun I’ve had with this game, and if the issues are resolved, I will change this review.
Players are also disappointed that, with the new mechs, vehicles are behind a paywall for the first time. Additionally, there is criticism that developer Arrowhead generally focuses too much on new content and not enough on the core of the game. Many fans are also unhappy with the latest balancing decisions.
The Developers’ Plan
The developers have now responded on Steam: In a blog post, they discuss their plans and goals for Helldivers 2 in more detail, hoping to appease angry fans:
- Currently, they are working onimproving meta-progression and the Galactic War, with initial results expected this summer. They have
significantly
expanded the team in this area. Plans include:More substantial
rewards and community progression systems. In the Galactic War, for example, there will be Stratagem unlocks again.- Major Orders are to be expanded into thematic campaigns lasting several weeks.
- Branching endings, clearer risks and consequences based on players’ actions.
- In addition, the team aims to improvecommunication with fans:
- Balancing changes will be explained more clearly, and there will be no more hidden changes.
- There will be more updates on development and upcoming updates, as well as on the most pressing issues in areas such as technology and performance, balance, progression, and Galactic War.
- There will be more beta tests with players.
- Vehicles will continue to be unlocked through gameplay in the future and will not, as feared, end up exclusively in Warbonds. Despite the debacle with the new Mechs, however, further Warbonds featuring vehicles are not ruled out.
- Work is also underway on new Red Stratagems and new ship modules.
It remains to be seen whether fans are satisfied with the developers’ promises and explanations. At least the blog post addresses virtually every issue that has been on the community’s mind in recent weeks. However, the answers may not always be what the dissatisfied players want to hear. Many players will likely want to see actions rather than just words first.
