Arrowhead Game Studios is set to put Helldivers 2 back on track after a rocky post-launch period. The studio has listened to its community, and it might give the game an update similar to Cyberpunk 2077’s famous revival. After months of discontent over weapon nerfs, Helldivers 2 is on the path to redemption with its upcoming patch, scheduled for September 17.
The centerpiece of this effort is the flamethrower, a fan-favorite weapon that recently suffered from nerfs that the community wasn’t quite approving of. Arrowhead hopes to win back players who have been frustrated with the game’s balancing issues over the past few months.
Helldivers 2 Is Gearing up for Big Changes
The nerf to the flamethrower that Arrowhead brought with the Escalation of Freedom update was one of the most opposed changes from the community. Players voiced their displeasure saying that these changes took away much of what makes Helldivers 2 fun. The game’s community is very vocal and this time, Arrowhead is taking it seriously.
We’ve heard you loud and clear and Flamethrower damage is increased by 33%🔥
Flamer mechanics will be reverted to the state before the Escalation of Freedom update and flamebased weapons can now damage heavier enemies like Chargers, Bile Titans, Impalers and Hulks. #BuffDivers pic.twitter.com/O9oipGJsfd
— HELLDIVERS™ 2 (@helldivers2) September 10, 2024
With the upcoming patch, Arrowhead is hoping to bring back the flamethrower to its former glory. The damage output of the flamethrower will be increased by 33% and its armor penetration will also be improved. Players will once again be able to use it against the likes of Hulks, Chargers, and Bile Titans.
The flamethrower buff is just one piece of a larger puzzle as Arrowhead attempts to overhaul many of the game’s core mechanics. According to the developers, over 30 weapons and stratagems are being rebalanced as part of the patch.
60 Day Timeline – Progress Update
byu/ArrowheadGS inHelldivers
The goal is to make each weapon feel powerful and rewarding to use, while ensuring that enemies remain formidable but not invincible. This will include reworks to other popular guns like the Autocannon and Anti-Material Rifle, which have also faced criticism for their lackluster performance in recent updates.
Can Arrowhead Pull off Another Cyberpunk 2077 Situation?
The decision to revert the flamethrower mechanics was driven by player feedback, which Arrowhead has been actively listening to through forums, social media, and in-game surveys.
In a recent video, director Johan Pilestedt and design director Niklas Malmborg discussed how they approached this update with the players in mind. They acknowledged the need to restore the flamethrower’s former glory and emphasized that this was just the beginning of their efforts to rebuild trust with the community.
Arrowhead is not stopping with just the flamethrower, though. The developers have also announced that these changes are just the beginning. The patch on September 17 will mark the start of a 60-day recovery plan aimed at addressing further issues with weapon balancing, enemy design, and gameplay mechanics.
Whether or not Helldivers 2 can fully reclaim its former glory remains to be seen, but the upcoming patch is certainly a step in the right direction. With the developer’s renewed focus on listening to player feedback and making meaningful changes, the future looks promising.
The flamethrower update is just the first step in what could be a larger turnaround for the game. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments!
