Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2 is in the middle of another controversy with the game’s recent reviews on Steam falling down to “Mostly Negative” yet again. However, Arrowhead has responded to the community with a lengthy message to fans.
In a large open letter to the Helldivers 2 community, Arrowhead explained that they “want to be clearer about what we’re working on and what’s coming next”. Following last year’s lengthy technical clean-up period, the studio has promised improvements to almost every system for the game.
In the letter, Arrowhead confirmed that a “major focus for the team is improving meta-progression and the Galactic War”. This comes after months of discussions surrounding “meaningful progression improvements” that Arrowhead has promised, seemingly aiming to give players more reasons to continue playing the multiplayer co-op game.
Arrowhead detailed the following three areas are currently the main focuses for the future of Helldivers 2:
- More meaningful rewards and community progression systems
- Evolving Major Orders into longer, multi-week themed “Campaigns”
- Branching outcomes that create clearer stakes and consequences based on player actions
The studio confirmed that players will see the “first results of this work this Summer”. In the “near term”, the studio is focusing on “tech and performance improvements” as well as “player progression and the broader player experience within the Galactic War”.
Arrowhead explained that the improved Galactic War will include “adding greater variety to rewards and bringing back more of the excitement players have called all”. This actually involves looking to past events, bringing in new stratagems and introducing mechanics within a new campaign to entice participation.
“We also want the Galactic War itself to feel more reactive to player actions, with events and outcomes that carry more weight,” the developer said. Additionally, the studio is currently exploring “closed and public beta testing” of major features, allowing fans to help guide the future of new mechanics.
Finally, Arrowhead promised that the team is working on “new red stratagems, evolving ships, and player progression to level 150 and beyond”. All of these have been major asks by the community for the past year.
While the studio didn’t explain what the upcoming improvements will entail, or even when they will actually release, but it’s clear that the studio has taken the recent negative reviews into account. However, some fans are not convinced.
“It’s frustrating that the only way to get these kind responses is to review bomb and spend months complaining online, only for it to go nowhere. Start doing, not talking,” one player said. “I’ve heard pretty little words one too many times. This sounds like good news but I’ll believe it when I see it,” said another.
“It shouldn’t take review bombs for the respect of listening to your players, thank you for further communication and hopefully looking forward to meaningful changes. Love this game and it deserves to stick around,” a third fan said.
At the end of the day, Helldivers 2 is still a fun game, but the community has spent a long time waiting for promised changes. Hopefully, this time, the changes are actually on their way.
