It's plain as day by now that Helldivers 2 is a cornerstone release for both Sony as its publisher and Arrowhead as its developer, but the buck doesn't stop at crossover content. Sony has just announced that there's a Helldivers film in production, alongside an adaptation of Horizon: Zero Dawn.

You read that right: Sony Pictures is now working on an honest-to-goodness Helldivers film, as shared by none other than Geoff Keighley on Twitter. Further, IGN has reported on an upcoming collaboration between PlayStation Studios and Columbia Pictures to produce a re-telling of Horizon: Zero Dawn, which is in a category all of its own. These announcements kind of overshadowed the smaller one that Crunchyroll will host the upcoming Ghost of Tsushima anime, which is set to release sometime in 2027. A massive assortme??nt of high-grade media, then, but what does it all mean?

Expect Horizon: Zero Dawn, Helldivers 2, and Ghost of Tsushima films and series in the future

For the most part, both the Horizon and Ghost of Tsushima adaptations are fairly straightforward offerings in the grand scheme of things. "Just imagine, Aloy's beloved origin story set in a vibrant, far future world f??illed with giant machines, brought to you for the first time on the big screen," said the head of PlayStation Productions Asad Quizilbash, plainly telling us what to expect out of this particular movie. The president of Crunchyroll, Rahul Purini, said "The Ghost of Tsushima anime will offer fans an exciting new way to experience the game in an anime style that will be bold and gro??undbreaking."

In other words, even though these projects are interesting, anyone who's played Horizon: Zero Dawn or Ghost of Tsushima will know what to expect from them. That's fair, of course, just somewhat unexciting compared to the total, absolute unknown that is the Helldivers film.

For starters, both Horizon and Ghost of Tsushima are character-driven and story-heavy games that should lend themselves very well to their respective movie adaptations. Helldivers is not that at all. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the sheer chaos of combat and disassociation from the characterization of this series makes it very difficult to adapt for the silver scree??n.

Further, note that the featured image doesn't say Helldivers 2, but just Helldivers. It's clear that this is going to be a standalone story of some sort that's presumably going to establish the franchise universe in some way, shape, or form. Heck, it might even be a re-telling of sorts of the original Helldivers' broad narrative beats, which might work well.

Since we've got absolutely no specifics to work with, we'll just have to wait and see what comes of it all. It's going to be particularly interesting to see how involved Arrowhead Games ends up being, and if the project can elevate itself from retreading the likes of Starship Troopers, for example. Exciting news all around?, however, though it'll take a while before we hear more about any of these projects.

The post Sony Pictures announces Helldivers and Horizon??: Zero Dawn movies appeared first on Destructoid.

As soon as crossover content was brought up in the context of Helldivers 2, players started getting concerned over what it might entail. Judging by what Arrowhead Games' CCO Johan Pilestedt has just shared, however, Helldivers 2 crossovers should be fairly innocuous ?in the grand scheme of things.

More specifically, even though Power Rangers were mentioned as one of the potential Helldivers 2 crossover opportunities, that doesn't seem to be on the docket. Not yet, at least. This has unsurprisingly been one of the hot topics on the Helldivers 2 subreddit, with one of the more popular recent threads asking where the "crossover line in the sand" ought to be drawn. The surprising bit came about when Pilestedt himself chimed in on the matter. According to him, the line is drawn right here:

Pilestedt's Helldivers 2 collaboration diagram is rather telling

In other words, grunts from all manner of other intellectual properties are all possible inclusions. Or, rather, options that Arrowhead would be happy to include in Helldivers 2 if the IPs' respective owners would agree t??o it. Highlighted options include:

• Killzone's Helghast
• Starship Troopers' Grunts
• Halo's ODSTs
• Warhammer 40K's Imperial Infantry

The buck stops at Halo's Master Chief, however, and we shouldn't expect to see the Doom Slayer, Astartes, or Ninja Turtles in Helldivers 2 anytime soon. Or Snoop Dogg, for that matter. Curiously, the Clone Troopers from Star Wars have also been excluded from the mix, though the Truth Enforcers Warbond kind of pays homage to those armor designs.

Back on track, Pilestedt has also explained that there's some nuance to how Arrowhead thinks of content crossover. From the look of things, crossovers are going to be a serious consideration for Helldivers 2 in the future, and we should definitely expect lots more as time goes on. These will, presumably, build upon the precedent set by the Killzone crossover. Mind that Arrowhead is still figuring out how to best handle this type of content, however.

Arrowhead intends to avoid IP dilution by creating authentic and believable crossovers that still somehow fit into the grander lore of Helldivers 2. This is particularly important, it seems, as crossover lore will "become canon" in some way, shape, or form. In the case of Killzone 2's Helghast grunts, for example, this franchise's Ståhl Arms has been canonized in Helldivers 2 as one of the ac?tive weapon and armor manufacturers??. It's a neat enough system, I'll give them that.

The potentially problematic bit comes about when you consider Arrowhead's authenticity tenet: the team will "strive to modify as little as possible from the original inspiration." This sounds admirable at face value, but video games' design languages rarely fit with one another all that well. This could lead to clashing assets, though that's a problem for so??me other day.

So, if you too were concerned about Helldivers 2 turning into Fortnite in a few months, that's entirely unfounded. It'll still take some time for Arrowhead to figure out what's what when it comes to crossovers, of course. Heck, we might go for a long while before the next crossover drops into Helldivers 2?. But, when it finally does happen, there??????????????????????????'s no reason to expect Nicki Minaj on the side of Super Earth.

The post Helldivers 2 rev??eals ??how far its crossover content will go appeared first on Destructoid.

It's been months since Helldivers turned the bug-addled planet of Meridia into a gaping black hole. I nearly forgot about it. But something is amiss... and possibly undemocratic. The Meridia black hole in Helldivers 2 is different, and the Illuminate invasion is making a beelin?e straight to it.

That's bad, right? I mean, having a yawning black hole where a colonized planet used to be isn't fantastic for myriad reasons, but the returning alien force's interest in it can't be positive. At least, it certainly seems like Illuminate forces are heading its way. The faction's mysterious movements haven't avoided the community's notice, as some are raising the alarm.

The image above is from yesterday ?and it's already out of date. Today, the Illuminate is occupying a planet in the Ursa Sector, which is even closer to Meridia's location:

The Meridia black hole in Helldivers 2 has gotten even weirder

As the invasion moves at a steady cli??p toward the Terminid sectors, the Meridia black hole has clearly undergone some changes. The black hole is surrounded by new particle effect?s, making it look a bit more pissed off than usual.

Sup?er Earth High Command has since shared a message stating things regarding the Meridia hole are probably okay.

Many speculate the Illuminate's invasion and the black hole are connected, and it's tough to disagree. Hell, the relationship between the Squids and the hole was made clear in the Omens of Tyranny announcement.

"The Illuminate have seemingly emerged from the singularity created by the destruction of Meridia," the announcement explained. "Even though we don’t know the true origin of?? the invasion, we have no choice now but to suppress three factions in the Galactic War."

Of course, the issue with the announcement is that the new Illuminate invasion began on the planet Calypso and in the Saleria Sector, far from Meridia. Perhaps the message was leftover from an older plan, or we missed something. Regardless, the Illuminate is making its way? to the black hole now for reasons that likely are quite bad.

Some believe the true Illuminate forces are waiting? beyond the black hole and wil??l be revealed when the smaller invasion fleet reaches it. Others think the aliens will use their slimy tendrils to take over the bodies of Terminids, creating a zombified army that'll make the Voteless seem like annoying gnats. Both may end up true, and the thought of it is both terrifying and exciting.

C'mon and catch a ride

Either way, the community should be prepared now that they've spilled blue blood. The Fast Recon Vehicle is ??available today as a Stratagem. You ??can purchase it via the Ship Management menu on your Super Destroyer ship. It costs 25,000 Requisition Slips to unlock and comes with unlimited uses.

The latest Warbond includes a vehicle pattern, allowing you to deck out the FRV in urban camo. Be sure to check out our guide on the Urban Legends Warbond, whi?ch covers everything it brings and how m??uch it'll all cost.

The post Uh oh:?? The Meridia black hole has changed in Helldivers 2, and the Illuminate is seemingly m?oving to it appeared first on Destructoid.

If you were excited about the ongoing Helldivers 2 and Killzone crossover items but couldn't afford to splurge on them willy-nilly, I've got some excellent news for you. Arrowhead has just announced that it's giving away a bunch of these items totally for free, and you can claim them now.

That's right, folks: Arrowhead Games has seemingly taken the recent outburst of criticism over the Killzone crossover items to heart. Virtually every community member was up in arms recently after it became clear that the planned price for the sum of all Killzone crossover items would be about $40 in total. In other words, the price of Helldivers 2.

In what may be the fastest turnover Helldivers 2 has ever had from bad to good, as far as the community is concerned, Arrowhead is now looking to correct its approach to crossover content. This means the planned second batch of Killzone items has been pushed ahead of its scheduled release as a free content d?rop for all players. If that's not the holiday cheer at work, I? don't know what else it could be.

Log in to claim your fancy batch of Helldivers 2 x Killzone crossover items

You can log into Helldivers 2 right now to get a frankly phenomenal selection of Killzone items at no additi??onal charge. Here's the full list:

• AC-2 Obedient light armor set
• PLAS-39 Accelerator sniper rifle
• StA-11 SMG
• Defender of Our Dream cape
• Defender of Our Dream player banner

If you haven't been keeping track, that's a meaningfully larger content drop than we received as part of this year's Liberty Day. It's also about $20's worth of Super Credit value, which is nothing to scoff at. This entire roundup of items will be free to claim for every player, even if they never logged into the game up until now. There's been no mention of how long this promotion will last, but that's no problem. As per Arrowhead's Reddit post featured above, Killzone items won't be relegated to Super Store rotations forever: "We’re also investigating solutions for how we can bring these items back per?manently in the future," they said.

The original batch of Helldivers 2 and Killzone crossover items (namely the AC-1 Dutiful armor set, the StA-52 rifle, and other assorted cosmetics) will stay in the Super Store for five more days than it was initially planned. The FOMO around th??em is thus somewhat reduced, though you obviously won't be able to claim these for free, too.

It's a solid showing, all in all, and not something I expected to see from Arrowhead at this time. Whereas StA-52 is a side-grade to the base Liberator at most, the explosive sniper rifle and the Bizon SMG expy are far more interesting in practice, so I'm thrilled to see everyone getting access to those for free. It still remains to be seen how Arrowhead intends to permanently incorporate such crossovers into the game's Super Store, however. Clearly, more crossover promotions are on the way, but it's likely they will be handled with a tad more grace than what the Killzone promo was initially afforded.

The post Helldiv?ers 2 is giving away the second half of its?? Killzone crossover for free appeared first on Destructoid.

Helldivers 2's recent Omens of Tyranny update was a phenomenally executed content drop. With a whole new faction to fight against urban environments and vehicles in tow, Helldivers 2 is now looking to continue this streak with delightful cosmetics as well. Specifically, Killzone-inspired cosmetics, which is a surprise.

Obviously, since Helldivers 2 is a full-blooded live-service endeavor with everything that this type of development entails, there's a catch. It's the price, as you'd expect. Helldivers 2's new Killzone 2 cosmetic pack (which may or may not have been designed as a Warbond at some point) is going to set you back almost as much as two full Premium Warbonds. Further, this is only the first batch of Killzone-themed goodies, with a whole new round o??f items set to go live in a few da?ys.

A problematic precedent for the future of Helldivers 2's monetization? It could be, but it also is reminiscent of a certain Destiny 2 development from a while back.

Helldivers 2's new Killzone cosmetics and rifle cost almost as much as two full Premium Warbonds

First things first, I have to admit I am very happy with how Arrowhead Games' designers are handling the Killzone crossover as far as its content goes. This development comes exactly a month following Arrowhead's interv?iew discussing poten?tial crossovers and how the team does not wish to dilute Helldivers 2's established aesthetic. The good news is that they aren't, and the Killzone 2 items not only harken back to Guerilla Games' legacy IP in the best way possible, but they also fit in just fine with Helldivers 2 proper.

It's the best-case scenario in that regard, really. The problem is that these items are all very expensive compared to most everything else we have in Helldivers 2. Here are the exact prices:

• StA-52 bullpup rifle - 615 SC
• AC-1 Dutiful armor set - 500 SC
• AC-1 Dutiful helmet - 310 SC
• Cape - 310 SC
• Emblem/Title - 150 SC
• Profile Background - 90 SC

In total, you will spend 1975 SC if you wish to purchase all of these items, which comes out to just about $20 or your regional equivalent. Almost two full Premium Warbonds, as they've been established so far. The reason why I think this sets a bad precedent for Helldivers 2's future comes from the CEO ?Shams Jorjani, who has already stated that there's more of this stuff to come.

Now, I don't mean to be overly negative about a pack of admittedly awesome cosmetics, but veteran Destiny 2 players will remember that Bungie said something very similar about Eververs??e at one point: "Whisper of the Worm's ornaments were successful enough that it paid [dev cost-wise] for the Zero Hour mission/rewards to be constructed,"? said Bungie's developer blog back in 2019.

Of course, Jorjani's comment is very sensible from a pragmatic point of vi??ew. A live-service game cannot continue trucking along if players aren't actively spending money on it. Yet, it can come off as a tad insensitive, depending on how you read it. The community is predictably unhappy about it, as one might expect.

There's other stuff to note about Helldivers 2's Killzone promo, too. Firstly, it is functionally a Premium Warbond-sized content drop that's been enhanced with a layer of FOMO. Arrowhead is well aware of thi??s, and the official announcement promises a semi-solution is on the way: "Right now, many of you feel the items are in rotation for too short a time, and that you sometimes miss out on that killer look you had your eyes on. At the same time, the more things we add to the store, the longer it takes to come back into rotation," says the blog. "As we’re not quite ready to roll out a full redesign, we’re going to temporarily test longer rotations with Killzone,?? which will stick around for 5 days per page instead (there will be two pages of items to explore)."

That's right: spending roughly $20's worth of currency only nets about half of the grand total of items that will be available as part of the Killzone content pack. Presumably, the second page of content will be priced about the same, which gets us to a rough grand total of $40 just to unlock all the fancy new Helldivers 2 cosmetics.

The big question that posits itself is simple: why are Killzone items not handled in the same way other Premium Warbonds have been? Arrowhead says that this is "a new tier of special Premium content reserved for collaborations and other uniquely-themed work," which is fair, but I don't see any reason why it shou??ld be bound with FOMO. So far, then, it's a toss-up, no matter how you spin it. But hey, the items do look cool; I'll give Arrowhead that.

The post Helldivers 2’s Killzone collab is now live, and it’s cool but expensive appeared first on Destructoid.

More than 100K players returned to Helldivers 2 to bring a swift, democratic ass-kicking to the Illuminate, and somehow clawed back a victory in their first defense campaign. The fa??ction has left the galactic map, wher?e they'll never be seen again. Right?

After months of teases, rumors, and community-led scuttlebutt surrounding it, the Illuminate faction finally appeared in Helldivers 2 and was just as quickly shown the door. The weekend saw 150K Helldivers 2 players on Steam fighting the Illuminate campaign on Calypso. After three days, Helldivers won the campaign with a margin of only 0.1%.

After reclaiming the planet, the Illuminate disappeared. Granted, it wasn't exactly easy to kick the squids ba??ck to the void. The f??ight was a bit too close, claiming the lives of millions of divers. Regardless, Super Earth made one hell of a statement.

Welcome to Super Erf

Helldivers 2 players are gluttons for punishment, and many are asking abou??t the next deadly wave. I mean, Calypso was liberated so quickly that some were a bit disappointed. By that, I don't mean they weren't fun to fight. They were. But it just happened so fast. I hoped to get more games in this weekend, but the campaign was over before I realized it. I know I'm not the only one.

Of course, the Illuminate will stage a comeback. The first battle certainly feels like the alien faction was testing the waters. Helldivers 2 players will certainly see the Illuminate return for a bigger swing, but next time they'll have fresh wheels. Fast Recon Vehicles will be available to purchase as a new Stratagem within the next few days. The latest Warbond, Urban Legends, comes wit??h a new vehicle pattern (skin) for ??when that happens.

Until then, Helldivers 2 players will have to be patient some more. We've finished the appetize??r; t??he main course is on the way.

The post Over 100K Helldivers 2 players r??eturned to the game to fight the Illuminate invasion, and barely won the first defe?nse appeared first on Destructoid.

THE ILLUMINATE HAVE RETURNED! Helldivers 2 has entered a new chapter with the Omens of Tyranny update, but they're not defenseless. Here's everything in the new Helldivers 2 Warbond Urban Legends and their cost.

The items in the Urban Legends Warbond live up to their name. Take to the streets in urban-themed armor and defend freedom with a new shield Stratagem and a melee weapon. Helldivers 2 - Urban Legends is a Premium Warbond, which means you can only unlock it using the premium currency Super Credits. It tak?es 1,000 Super Credits (SC) to get? the Warbond �$10 in real-life cash.

Everything in Helldivers 2 - Urban Legends Warbond

Things are a bit different in Urban Legends. The Warbond has fewer weapons than typical, offering m??ore Stratagems to balance things out. It introduces the game's first melee-only weapon: the CQC-19 Stun Lance.

Weapon

Stratagems

Armor Sets

Urban Legends has two new armor sets, which include the armo??r, helmet, and cape. The Armor Passive is Siege-Ready, which enhances your reload and ??ammunition stats.

• Armor Passive: Siege-Ready

  • Increases reload speed of primary weapons by 30%.
  • Increases ammo capacity of primary weapons by 20%.

Capes

• Greatcloak of Rebar Resolve (Page 1) - 2 Warbond Medals
• Holder of the Yellow Line (Page 2) - 20 Warbond Medals

Helmets

• SR-24 Street Scout (Page 1) - 30 Warbond Medals
• SR-18 Roadblock (Page 2) - 35 Warbond Medals

Emote

• This Is Democracy (Page 3) - 50 Warbond Medals

Super Credits

• 100 SC (Page 1) - 7 Warbond Medals
• 100 SC (Page 2) - 12 Warbond Medals
• 100 SC (Page 3) - 32 Warbond Medals

Booster

• Armed Resupply Pods (Page 2) - 55 Warbond Medals

Player Cards

• Rebar Resolve (Page 1) - 2 Warbond Medals
• Holder of the Yellow Line (Page 2) - 5 Warbond Medals

Title

• Super Pedestrian (Page 3) - 20 Warbond Medals

Patterns (Skins)

• Concrete Jungle Hellpod Pattern (Page 1) - 20 Warbond Medals
• Concrete Jungle Shuttle Pattern (Page 2) - 50 Warbond Medals
• Concrete Jungle Exosuit Pattern (Page 3) - 50 Warbond Medals
• Concrete Jungle Vehicle Pattern (Page 3) - 55 Warbond Medals

That just about wraps up everything in the Urban Legends Warbond for Helldivers 2. Now, ?go out there and make the vile Illuminate communists taste the boot of freedom.

The post Helldivers 2: Everything in the Ur??ban Legends Warbond ?and their cost appeared first on Destructoid.

It's taken the better part of the year, but Arrowhead Games has finally released the long-anticipated third enemy faction for Helldivers 2. That's right, folks: the Illuminate forces are here as part of the Omens of Tyranny up??date, and they're a menace.

We've been waiting for the Illuminate to make themselves known for quite a while now. Teasers have been coming in thick for months, and since the third faction is the last major piece of content from the original Helldivers that we hadn't yet seen, there was a lot of excitement and mystery surrounding it. To that end, the Omens of Tyranny update's sudden release shouldn't necessarily come as a huge surprise. It launched as part of the ongoing TGA celebrations (which is appropriate, seeing how Helldivers 2 won the "Best Multiplayer Title" award), and you can go fight the Illuminate right this i??nstant. Shoul?d you, though?

Take the fight to Illuminate forces in Helldivers 2: Omens of Tyranny

Following the a??n??noyances of August's Escalation of Freedom update, I was skeptical of the new Omens of Tyranny release for Helldivers 2. Quite simply, Arrowhead has a track record of successfully mucking about things that work, and though I was quite happy with the state of the game back in October, the road to getting there did make me suspicious of any huge revamps, releases, a?nd change??s.

With that in mind, things seem to be in order. Even though the return of the Illuminate is the biggest draw of this update, Omens of Tyranny is substantially larger than just that. As per the official blog post over on Steam, you can expect all of the following features in Helldivers 2's latest build:

• The Illuminate faction.
• Urban mission areas (!).
• The Fast Recon Vehicle for entire squads of Helldivers to drive, shoot, and generally enjoy using.

Great stuff, right? But wait, the good news doesn't stop here because Omens of Tyranny is positively loaded with ex??cellent balancing changes, too:

• Exploding barrels are far more potent.
• Helldivers are more difficult to set ablaze.
• Airburst Rocket Launcher now has an additional ammunition type: timer-based cluster rounds.
• LIFT-850 Jetpack is now far more useful, allowing users to aim and heal while they're airborne.
• All Sentry Stratagems are now more durable and resistant to fire.
• All Exosuit Stratagems are now more durable.

Further, you can now rejoin your last match if the game crashes. Arrowhead has also delivered a whole host of bugfixes and other assorted balancing improvements as part of the update. There a?re just too many of those to be able to shove them into a sensible list in such a small article.

All in all, then, Helldivers 2's huge Omens of Tyranny update is an excellent showing. The availability of a new faction, multi-user vehicle, or the urban biome each would've been a huge upgrade to Helldivers 2's longevity on its own. With all three o??f these features included in one update, we've got a heck of a holiday ??season ahead of us.

The post Helldivers 2’s Illuminate faction is finally here, alongside urban maps, vehicles, and more in Omens of Tyranny update appeared first on Destructoid.

The Omens of Tyranny update is now live in Helldivers 2, and it introduces a host of new content, including Fas??t Recon Vehicles. You and your squad will no longer need to run across zones to defeat your enemy or get to the exfil. Here's how you can find it on your adventures.

Helldivers 2 Fast Recon vehicle location

The Omens of Tyranny update hasn't been out for l??ong, but so far, you can only get the vehicle in the new urban districts called colonies that were also added as part of the upate. To reach this location, look out for Illuminate m??issions on Calypso.

The car is a 4-seater utility unit with a mounted gun on the top. Its exact location will be completely random, and you'll have to observe your mini-map. It will be marked with a car and machine gun symbol. In the futur?e, FRVs will be available in more locations, and you can deploy them as stratagems. To do so, you'll have to complete a Major Order ??which is yet to be revealed.

Additionall?y, you'll also need points ??to unlock it (just like all other stratagems). Once we have more information about the quest and the required points, we will update this piece.

How to use the Fast Recon vehicle in Helldivers 2

Driving in Helldivers 2 is surprisingly ?easy, but you'll have to master the cont?rols. It won't be a cakewalk but it will let you escape near-death situations if you do it right.

• Press the W or RT button to accelerate.
• Press the S or LT button to apply the brakes.
• Use the Arrow keys/LS to control the direction.
• Use the Control and Shift/L2 and R2 buttons to switch between different gears: Reverse, Neutral, Drive, 1, or 2.

That's pretty much all of it when it comes to vehicles and using them strategically in Helldivers 2. It will be interesting to find out how they work as stratagems, and they might become a meta-choice on certain type??s of maps and missions.

The post How to get a vehicle in Helldivers 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Game Awards 2024 is happening today, December 12, at 4:30 p.m. PT, and expectations are high following the report that there'll be some major reveals. Leading up to the event, some nominations for The Game Awards 2024 are being highlighted on Steam with discounts and an elusive Helldivers 2 armor making a comeback.

The Game Awards Steam page consists of discounted games that have earned nominations for the 2024 show. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Animal Well, Black Myth: Wukong, Helldivers 2, and many more are on sale ahead of?? the show. The page also hi?ghlights some winners from prior events, although not all of them are discounted.

The page is not too hard to navigate. Tabs at the top quickly take you to Featured, Past Winners, and 2024 Nominated Titles categories. There are ??tabs for 2024 ??Winners and Just Announced, but those won't point to anything until after the show concludes.

The Game Awards 2024 Steam sale brings back an exclusive Helldivers 2 armor

The highlight page also announces the return of an armor set for Helldivers 2: the TR-117 Alpha Commander. This set was given away as a free Twitch reward back in February. Those who missed out have asked if it'll ever be seen a?gain.

You can grab the set starting now by visiting the Helldivers 2 events page. It's only available for a week, so you better get on it before it's gone again. The green light armor comes with the Med-Kit passive, adding two more Stims with effects that last two seconds longer. Helldivers 2 has been nominated ??for four awards, including Best Mul??tiplayer Game.

Helldivers 2 isn't alone with the free in-game items. No Man's Sky owners can grab the Starborn Phoenix Ship for free right now. Hit this link and click on "Add to Account" to get a new ride.

The Game Awards 2024 beg?ins later today. Be sure to stay locked on Destructoid for all of our TGA coverage.

The post The Game Awards 20??24 nominations are on?? sale at Steam with elusive Helldivers 2 armor for free appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're already over the ongoing problems with the new Democracy Space Station in Helldivers 2, I've got good news: there's other stuf?f on the horizon, too. The developer Arrowhead Games recently spoke at G-Star, the ongoing Korean gaming conference, discussing crossovers with other IPs, vehicles, and lots more.

This information comes from Redditor Creepy_Ad3991, who was kind enough to provide translated dialogue that's been adapted from the original source. The interview features the Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani and the CCO Johan Pilestedt as they go over some fairly spicy topics. For example, we now know that cross-overs are seemingly being considered (though the extent is very much unclear), with IPs such as Warhammer, Aliens, StarCraft, and Starship Troopers apparently being at the forefront of such discussions. Whether these were thrown out as a tongue-in-cheek reference or something more concrete, it's not yet clear, but I do hope we won't be looking at one-to-one transitions but full-fledged adaptations, as Destiny 2's been doing.

Vehicles are definitely coming to Helldivers 2, cross-overs with other IPs may happen

On to the more concrete answers provided by Pilestedt and Jorjani, the Democracy Space Station isn't done just yet: "As of [November 14], the [DSS] has been activated, and gamers with overflowing resources can now [invest them]. More features will be enabled next week," they said, which may give some hope to those that have been underwhelmed by the station's current performance.

Though the pair did joke around with the concept of vehicles in Helldivers 2, with Pilestedt saying that he wasn't even sure "if Helldivers are old enough to drive," the feature is coming to the game. "On a more serious note," he said, "??vehicle updates are in the plans. [They] will be added soon, but I don't think I can go into more detail than that."

Pilestedt also said that he is "thinking about how to incorporate these 'Chaos Divers' into [Helldivers 2]," which may come as a surprise at first. Yet, it's worth remembering that the Truth Enfor??cers warbond already kind-of-sort-of responded to the problem, suggesting that Super Earth already has all the tools it ne?eds to d?eal with dissenters.

Now, the majority of topics that Arrowhead discussed here aren't new in and of itself. Heck, I myself brought up the inevitable introduction of vehicles into Helldivers 2 back when the game came out, but this is the first time Arrowhead referenced the feature directly. The big question is definitely the crossovers/collaborations with other IPs, as this has the potential of watering down the game's ?fairly strong design language.

Jorjani said that "[Arrowhead] don't want to do too many crossovers, but we are fully considering appropriat??e collaboration to suit the ?game's atmosphere." It's a good take, right? "For example," Jorjani continued, "collaboration with 'Power Rangers' would be difficult in concept, but wouldn't it be possible to do something like Black Ranger? That's what I want." It's a somewhat worrisome context when he puts it that way.

Regardless, I'd like to highlight that as interesting as this information may be, it does come via an unofficial translation. Arrowhead is probably going to offer similar communications to global users soon enough, and we'll just have to wa?it and see how things pan out in the interim.

The post Surprise Helldivers 2 interview reveals cross-??over hopes??, planned vehicles, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

The Democracy Space Station was one of the most exciting new developments in Helldivers 2's ongoing galactic war. A potent semi-mobile enhancement platform that can buff Helldivers wherever they go sure sounds great, but it's a bit of a wet noodle in ??practice. Worse, ev?en, as it's downright punishing.

As the DSS was slowly ramping up its engi??nes and the community invested heaps of resources into it, the expectation was that it would massively improve our combat efforts on whichever front it was deployed on. Well... the truth is a tad more complicated than that. Not only is using the DSS a heck of an effort in its own right, but the effects are also substantially less useful than we hoped they would be. From the look of things, the DSS doesn't add bonus Stratagem deployments or some manner of passive buffs to the players' stats. Instead, it effectively carpet-bombs the entire map all at once.

The Democracy Space Station is going to need a rework, stat

Now, we'll obviously have to wait and see how the remainder of the Democracy Space Station's Actions work out, but the Orbital Barrage is genuinely problematic in practice. It looks like the effect of the Orbital Barrag??e is roughly equivalent to that of an omnipresent 380MM explosive Stratagem, except it's applied to a whole level, leading to unpredictable ragdolling and, indeed, deaths.

The bit that is wholly predictable? is the players' response to this fumble: they are deeply unhappy with what's been delivered. The DSS has been the single focal point of every Major Order for weeks now, and to have the feature be downright detrimental to the players' efforts is demoralizing, to say the least.

Also predictable is the fact that Helldivers 2 is coping with this development via some delightfully spicy memes. Certainly, Arrowhea??d Games has managed to successfully turn things around and bring? the game back to its laun??ch-day glory. Yet, if the DSS doesn't get massively recalibrated to become a potent tool in the Super Earth's arsenal, this whole thing will become yet another mar on what could otherwise be a wonderful live-service experience.

For what it's worth, I've got no doubt that Arrowhead will somehow revamp the DSS at some point in the near future. As it currently stands, playing missions with a DSS Action running is almost impossible unless you're really lucky with? how? the 380MM bombardment is dished out, and that's no way to play the game. We'll just have to stick with the darned thing until appropriate calibrations are made.

And, on that note, I do have to praise Arrowhead for no longer making the same kinds of mistakes the team's been making since the Magicka days. Something like the DSS could never have been shipped in its current form back in the day, not even in the original Helldivers, so the effort is certainly praiseworthy. It's just going to take a bit more time for it to be anything less than ??actively detrimental to the pla?yerbase.

The post Helldivers 2’s new DSS isn’t working out appeared first on Destructoid.

The Democracy Space Station, or DSS for short, is a massive orbiting platform in Helldivers 2 that players can u??se in the fight for democracy. Players can spend resources to activate a handful of Stratagems that the DSS can deploy, and vote on where to send the space station next.

The DSS activates every 24 hours on a countdown timer. Once it reaches zero, the station will move to the location voted on by Helldivers 2 players where it'll unleash ??its unlocked Stratagems.

How to open and navigate the DSS menu in Helldivers 2

The DSS menu is accessible via the Super Destroyer ship. To enter it, navigate to the bridge and open the Galactic War map. You should see a button prompt to enter the DSS menu at the top of the map. For PlayStation 5 users, press the t?ouchpad button. PC players can enter the menu? using the B key.

The me??nu includes three tab?s you can select to view the main functions of the DSS:

• Summary

  • Provides you with information detailing the current situation of the DSS, including its location, current action, and Stratagem activation progress.

• Actions

  • The Actions tab shows you a list of DSS Stratagems you can spend resources on to activate.

• Location

  • Allows you to vote on which system to send the DSS next.

How to activate DSS Tactical Action Stratagems

The DSS is capable of supporting divers on the field with a handful of Stratagems, but they must be activated first. To do so, navigate to the Actions tab, where you'll see a short list of Tactical Actions for which you can spend resources. Unlocked Tactical Actions will be de?ployed during a campaign for one plan??????????????????????????et at a time. Each Stratagem requires a certain amount of resources, which include Common and Rare Samples, and Requisition Slips.

Here are the Tactical Actions you can unlock and the resources req?ui?red:

• Planetary Bombardment

  • Fires periodic Orbital Barrages during missions and accelerates the progression of Liberation Campaigns.
  • Requires: Rare Samples

• Eagle Storm

  • Deploys periodic Eagle Airstrikes during missions and slows enemy progress in Defense Campaigns.
  • Requires: Common Samples

• Orbital Blockade

  • Prevents Defense Campaigns on a planet and automatically activates the Hellpod Space Optimization Booster for all missions.
  • Requires: Requisition Slips

You can only donate resources up to a certain p??oint. Once you reach the maximum amount of donated resources, you cannot donate again for another 24 hours. To see how many resources you can donate, highlight an Action and check the maximum amount to the left of the Donate button.

How to move the DSS

The DSS can be deployed to any planet in Helldivers 2 with an ongoing campaign. To move the station, navigate to the Location tab and pick from the list of plan??ets. Every player gets one vote per Location change. You cannot change your vote.

Once the countdown finishes, the DSS will warp to the location with the highest number of votes. The DSS will remain in that system until players vote for it to move elsewhere. As the DSS is a tool, the best places to send it would be planets with challenging campaigns or as a way to cut off critical supply lines.

Should you spend resources on the DSS?

The DSS exists for two reasons: To assist Helldivers liberate or defend a planet during a campaign, and give players a place to dump excess resources. If you haven't spent your cash and samples unlocking every Stratagem and Ship Module, it's best to save your resources on those first. Using the DSS is a communit??y effort, and the?re are plenty of maxed-out players who will gladly dump their cash and Samples into the platform.

The post How to use the DSS in Helldivers 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

With this year's Liberty Day now behind us, it was only a matter of time before Helldivers 2 played host to a fancy new event of some sort. Enter the DSS: the Democracy Space Station, which has slowly b??een getting built up over the past few months.

The Democracy Space Station is, for all intents and purposes, now fully up and running. The kicker is that it's functionally useless for the time being, until the co??mmunity can rack up a significant enough resourc??e pool to unlock?? new goodies. A highlight is the Planetary Bombardment perk, which is right about halfway done at the time of writing and will give us bonus Orbital Barra?ge Stratagems on missions and should improve liberation efforts in the future.

Check out Helldivers 2's Democracy Space Station if you've got Samples to spare

The DSS is functionally a wide-sweeping buff platform that will assist players in various ways, should they be able to field its Tactical Actions. The investments that need to be made for these Actions to work are downright immense, however. ?Planetary Bombardment calls for Orange Samples, while Eagle Storm necessitates Green Samples. Orbital Blockade, on the other hand, will require a Requisition investment, which isn't too hard to stack up over time.

Regardless, unless you're in a position where you've already got everything unlocked and have your Super Destroyer fully built up, I would advise against ???spending Samples and Requisition on the DSS. Somewhat predictably, the results of the DSS building ca?mp??aign (which consisted of several large-scale Major Order operations) aren't all that interesting to some players.

The DSS also allows players to vote on where ??it should move next. While it has been built in the Gaellivare system,?? it would seem that the current Majority Vote is to move it to Mastia, which may well protect it from the ongoing Automaton Jet Brigade onslaught. Fun stuff, that.

Some players have an is??sue with the Democracy Space Station so far because it seems to be a fairly passive and unengaging bonus UI that? might not make a big difference in the pace of Galactic War at large. While Arrowhead Games definitely didn't suggest this would be the case, some were hoping that the DSS would also serve as a social hub of some sort.

If you're still intent on spending Samples at the DSS (which I am, too, just to see what comes of it in a practical sense), I'd suggest looking into our various Helldivers 2 farming guides:

• Common Samples
• Super Samples
• Difficulty Overview

However, it hasn't taken the community long to get many of the DSS's starter perks half-way done. To that end, I expect the first batch of Tactical Actions to be available soon enough, and then we'll see whether all?? of ou??r efforts have been for naught.

The post Helldivers 2’s long-awaited DSS Stratagem station is now active, ready for donations appeared first on Destructoid.

Arrowhead Games' CCO Johan Pilestedt doesn't want Helldivers 2 to crossover with other IPs, but he sure has ?a nice list ?of IPs prepared �just in case.

Replying to a post on X about potential crossovers, Pilestedt wrote that doing one with Helldivers 2 would "dilute the IP" and make it a "no?t helldivers" experience. In the same breath, he dropped a list of 11 IPs he'd wan??t to crossover with the game.

"Yeah, but these are just musings, if we were to do all of them, it would dilute the IP and make it a 'not helldivers experience'," Pilestedt wrote on X before revealing his secret headcanon ideas.

0 Days have passed since referencing The Predator in a Helldivers 2 post

Some IPs in the list, like Warhammer 40K and Starship Troopers, are obvious picks. A few of his choices are a bit out of left field, but I can see them work. I mean, I'd pay any amount of money to watch Korben Dallas and Leeloo take on a horde of Automatons. Wouldn't anyone?

Helldivers 2 is already rich in references. Its clearest influence is Starship Troopers, but the game also nods to Warhammer 40K and Star Wars with its armor designs. As far as crossovers go, those are a shoo-in. But some have wondered about game crossovers, such as with Deep Rock Galactic. It hasn't been too long since the Helldivers 2 X account dropped a cryptic message that seemed to reference the intergalactic dwarf game. Both communities share a sense of goodwill; it could be a welcome crossover.

Pilestedt's other picks include Terminator, The Predator, Blade Runner, Mutant Chronicles, The Fifth Element, and more. I can certainly see The Predator working since we already have to deal with invisible hunters that stalk divers on Terminid planets �I hate those bastards. A fan already mashed up Helldivers 2 with The Predator in a video, and it all blended quite nicely. So long as the crossover gifts us with a minigu??n Stratagem at last, I'll be there.

The post Helldivers 2 boss says crossovers would ‘dilute’ it, shares list of IPs he’d want to crossover with anyway appeared first on Destructoid.

Do you know those broadcasts from Super Earth? They're 100% true. I mean, why would the Ministry of Truth lie? The Helldivers 2 - Truth Enforcers Warbond celeb??rates these arbiters of accuracy, allowing you to spread the ?truth far and wide �likely with a flamethrower.

Truth Enforcers is a Premium Warbond for Helldivers 2. You can unlock it by spending 1,000 Super Credits (SC), roughly $10 in real-life money. Super Credits is a premium currency that can be discovered while playing the game, but you can make up for what's lacking by purchasing some in the in-game store if that's what you want. Keep in mind that Premium Warbonds are optional, supplying?? buyers with new guns, gear, and more.

Everything in Helldivers 2 - Truth Enforcers Warbond and their cost

Truth Enforcers delivers two new armor sets, a title, an emote, a Booster, weapons, and more. One of the weapons is the first of its kind: A plasma pistol, which hopefully packs ??the kind of punch needed to spill much oil.

Weapons

There is no new grenade in Truth Enforcers.

Armor Sets

Truth Enforcers includes two armor sets comprised of armor, helmets, and capes. The armor is equipped with the Unflinching passive.

Armor Passive: Unflinching

• Helps prevent Helldivers from flinching when hit.

Capes

• Pride of the Whistleblower (Page 2) - 20 Warbond Medals
• Proof of Faultless Virtue (Page 3) - 30 Warbond Medals

Helmets

• UF-50 Bloodhound (Page 2) - 35 Warbond Medals
• UF-16 Inspector (Page 3) - 45 Warbond Medals

Emote

• At Ease (Page 3) - 50 Warbond Medals

Super Credits

• 100 SC (Page 1) - 7 Warbond Medals
• 100 SC (Page 2) -
• 100 SC (Page 3) - 32 Warbond Medals

Booster

• Dead Sprint

  • Allows Helldivers to keep sprinting even when they are out of stamina, draining their health instead.

Player Cards

• Pride of the Whistleblower (Page 2) - 5 Warbond Medals
• Proof of Faultless Virtue (Page 3) - 15 Warbond Medals

Title

• Free of Thought (Page 3) - 20 Warbond Medals

Vehicle Patterns (Skins)

• Inconspicuous Black Hellpod Pattern (Page 1) - 10 Warbond Medals
• Inconspicuous Black Exosuit Pattern (Page 1) - 50 Warbond Medals
• Inconspicuous Black Shuttle Pattern (Page 2) - 50 Warbond Medals

That about wraps up everything you can get in the Helldivers 2 - Truth Enforcers Warbond and their cost. Hopefully, when you wear the armor of the Ministry of Truth, you'll run into fewer dissidents and more heroes willing to die for ??Liberty, Democracy, and Super Earth?. If not, they can always face the wall.

The post Helldivers? 2: Everything in the Truth Enforce??rs Warbond and their cost appeared first on Destructoid.

There's no point in spreading Managed Democracy throughout the galaxy if you can't be fashionable while doing it. Okay, all the armor sets in Helldivers 2 do have an intended purpose. But with tha?t gear and cape, you can't a??rgue that Helldivers have an immaculate drip.

Helldivers 2 has dozens armor sets to mix and match. They're separated into three types �Heavy, Medium, and Light �and come equipped with an Armor Passive that gives you a small boon. Developer Arrowhead Games is constantly delivering more armor sets via Warbonds and the Superstore, so be sure to keep an eye out for more ways to i?ncrease your st?yle points.

All Armor Passives in Helldivers 2 and what they do

There are eleven Armor Passives in Helldivers 2 and each offers different buffs. Knowing what they do can he?lp you survive longe??r on the battlefield.

All armor sets in Helldivers 2, their passives, and how to get them

Here are all the currently available armor sets in Helldivers 2. Keep in min??d that some are locked behind Warbonds or need to be purchased in the Superstore, while others are no longer available.

Aspects such as Armor Rating, Speed, Stamina Regen can differ among sets in the same type. In those occasions, you'll see all three aspects are balanced to compensate for any difference. For example, the SC-34 Infiltrator has a highe?r Armor Rating than other Light sets, but that is matched with lower Speed and Stamina ??Regen. Keep the differences in mind when choosing your equipment.

Every helmet in the game comes with the standard-issue stats of 100 ??Armor Rating, 100 Speed, and 100 Stamina Regen.

Arrowhead adds more a??rmor sets all the time. The developer also tweaks armor values from time to time. We'll keep updating the list whenever the Arm?ory changes.

The post All Helldivers 2 armor sets??, including Passives and how to get them appeared first on Destructoid.

Helldivers 2 studio Arrowhead Games is once more preparing to celebrate Liberty Day, the fictional in-game holiday where the whole family can get together, eat hotdogs, and watch traitors be executed. Arrowhead brings Liberty Day home for Helldivers 2 players with free armor and a weapon from the original game.

That's right. Arrowhead is gifting Helldivers 2 fans the most-requested armor set: The DP-00 Tactical, inspired by the original armor from Helldivers 1. The armor is paired with the R-2124 Constitution, a modernized take on the classic. In case you were wondering, the rifle comes equipped with a bayonet �for close encounters.

L?iberty Day 20??24 starts on October 26, and all are invited to join. Or else.

Time to salute and execute: Liberty Day 2024 is coming

Arrowhead Games shared a list of highlights coming to Liberty Day as part of the faux celebrations. The day starts with a Strohmann News 24-hour livestream followed by the reciting of the Super Earth Anthem. For your entertainment, Dissident Executions are scheduled for 0700. Don't worry if you miss out because there will be another set of surprise executions starting at 20:00. You better hope you weren't doing anything treasonous lately.

For those new to Helldivers, Liberty Day is a fake holiday taking place every October 26. It's the day the Starship Troopers novel was released in 1959 and also coincides with the birthday of the studio head Johan Pilestedt (it can't be a coincidence). The first Liberty Day was celebrated on October 26, 2016, for the original Helldivers. Players were rewarded?? three new capes and the M2016 Constitution rifle, based on the 1903 Springfield.

How to get the classic HD1 armor and Constitution rifle in Helldivers 2

The video may suggest you have to play Helldivers 2 on October 26 to get the armor and weapon, but that's not the case. All you need to do to get the rewards is... nothing.?? As confirmed by Arrowhead on its Discord, all players will be gifted the items on October 27 regardless of participation.

Beyond Liberty Day 2024

Helldivers 2 players have more to look forward to after Liberty Day. Another Warbond is coming next week, just in time for the spooky season. Helldivers 2: Truth Enforcers launches on October 31, bringing two new armor sets and more weapons. ?It'll finally add another SMG to ??the mix with the SMG-32 Reprimand, paired with a new shotgun and a plasma pistol. There's also a new 'At Ease' emote that's ripe for meme-ing.

It's going to be a long week for Helldivers 2 players, and it all starts on October 26.

The post Helldivers 2’s Liberty Day celebrations include free old-school armor, weapon, parades, and scheduled dissident executions appeared first on Destructoid.

I've been highly skeptical of Arrowhead Games' ability to "fix" Helldivers 2 in just two months' time. Seeing how the game's balancing was handled early on put me off of the game and I was not expecting the 60-day patch to do much.

Imagine my surprise, then, upon seeing not one but two incredible balancing updates pushed out to re-develop the meta to an enjoyable level. And, honestly, there are no two ways to describe the state Helldivers 2 is currently in: the game is gosh darn fun. There's no telling what might be the next step for?? Arrowhead Games' flagship shooter, and there are some caveats, but the game is now in a renaissance, and I'm thrilled to have regained some trust?? in the developers.

Helldivers 2 is now more fun than ever before, but can it stay that way?

I don't play Helldivers 2 the way it's meant to be played. There's a small sub-community of people playing Helldivers 2 solo, but we do so with the full expectatio??n that we won't be taking on the highest difficulties or pr??ogressing efficiently.

It's fine, really.

What wasn't fine was how egregiously punishing the game got, even at low difficulties, if you took a slightly suboptimal loadout into a mission. Certain enemies, such as the Charger, essentially mandated that your fireteam had to take dedicated anti-armor weapons, no matter what. This, in turn, defined your primary and secondary kit as well. Remember: there's a long history of nerfs to Helldivers 2, and though not all were unwarranted, players were still left in a situation where the vast majority of gear was whol?ly unviable.

All of this was before Arrowhead substantially powered up both the Automatons and the Bugs via the Escalation of Freedom, ?on top of?? locking the cool new content behind the new, highest difficulty mode.

None of this was necessarily rolled back. Instead, Arrowhead delivered an incredible roster of buffs to player weapons and armor, making more kit viable than the game had even on launch day. As it stands, the odds are good that you could take anything into a mission and still be a force to be reckoned with. This is a huge shift in how matches play out, both in solo and in fireteam modes.

What has actually changed in Helldivers 2 after the 60-day patches?

In the broadest sense possible, Arrowhead Games has done three things with the last couple of balancing patches for Helldivers 2:

• Retrofitted the vast majority of the game's arsenal into relevance via buffs.
• Made enemy resistances, AI behavior, and spawning setups far more reasonable and sensible.
• Stopped leaving inflammatory comments willy-nilly.

Balancing a game isn't a zero-sum consideration, and while you might expect Helldivers 2 to be exceedingly easy now, that's not quite the case. Helldiver troops still get cut down at a moment's notice. Bad positioning will result in mission losses and unnecessary deaths, and though enemy forces did get some nerfs, they are no pushovers unless you're playing on the lowest possi??ble difficulty.

The key thing that's changed is that you're no longer beholden to one or two specific loadouts for every single use case. As long as you keep a ?balanced arsenal where one of your weapons deals with chaff, one takes on heavy enemies, and one serves a gadget-like niche (i.e. the Stim Pistol), you'll be ab??le to do some serious damage.

Loadout variety is a huge consideration in a game where we regularly get awesome guns and gadgets. Having new flamethrowers only for them to feel like spruced-up matchsticks was a bad look, and I'm thrilled that Arrowhead managed to come ba?ck from that.

Honestly, Helldivers 2 is now fun, not because it's easy, but because it lets you interact with its sandbox in more ways than ever before. The "experi??ence shift" that Arrowhead promised wo??rked, almost ridiculously well.

Can Arrowhead maintain the balance that's now been struck?

This truly is the ultimate question we need to keep asking over and over again as we proceed into Helldivers 2's hopefully years-long live-service setup. Helldivers 2 was released to immediate acclai?m, only t?o then be ground into something less interesting and excitin??g by subsequent balancing attempts.

These balancing attempts came from a good place, but they showed the community that Arrowhead doesn't necessarily know how to make players happy?? a??nd the game fun. Even after two massive buff-orien??ted patches, I can'??t shake off the feeling that we're just riding a high that won't last long.

Potential hidden nerfs aside for a bit, there's another big consideration: can there be too much of a good thing in this context? And the answer is yes, certainly. The original Helldivers was balanced on a knife's edge (not always perfectly, mind), where both the enemies and ??the players were extremely po??werful and capable. The challenge was knowing how to best use these powerful tools you had at your disposal and how to avoid the enemies' strongest weapons.

I dare say that we're in a similarly precarious golden era for Helldivers 2, too. The enemies are challenging, but the players have the potential of being every bit as punishing as the full brunt of the Automaton and/or Bug forces. How long will Arrowhead Gam??es be able to maintain this balance? Are we just one Warbond away from completely dismantling everything the 60-day patch(es) delivered?

Given Arrowhead's track record, I'm not yet convinced this isn't a fluke. I want to believe Helldivers 2 will now k??eep up its balancing act to stay the game it is now. But it will take a?? handful of other balancing updates before I can be sure that I'm happy with what Arrowhead's offering. And I know I'm not the only one who's still on the fence.

The post Helldivers 2 has managed t??o pull itself back from a balancing disaster, against? all odds appeared first on Destructoid.

The prophecy has been fulfilled: Arrowhead Games has dropped the notes for the Helldivers 2 day-60 patch, which brings even more buffs and changes to the table. ?Oh, and it apparently canonizes community meme John Helldiver. But let's briefly forget about that and dive? into the notes.

It may have come out a few days later than expected, but the Helldivers 2 day-60 patch has arrived. The Arrowhead team found many more buffs and changes to apply to the game's w?eapons and stratag?ems. Gameplay changes run the gamut from enemy health to patrol spawn behavior. The patch targets the Automaton forces more directly, decreasing the armor for some enemies while making it harder for them to target you through smoke and fog.

Helldivers 2 day-60 patch notes is full of welcome changes

More than 70 weapons and stratagems got tweaked or reworked following Helldivers 2 patch 01.001.104. For the guns, the Liberator, Scorcher, Purifier, Punisher Plasma, and others have been buffed to be even more viable in the field. Among the big buffs, few are bigger than the one for the fan-favorite P-4 Senator, which has been upgraded with heavy armor penetration and increased projectile damage. But can it actually ground Chargers? Oh, yes. And not just Chargers.

The p?atch also addresses many of the support weapons. The Recoilless Rifle now has programmable ammunition, allowing you to switch between the regul?ar rockets and High-Explosive rounds. Arrowhead extended the same love to the Autocannon, which can fire normal or flak projectiles. Other affected Stratagems include the Machine Guns and the Stalwart, the Jump Pack, the AR-23 "Guard Dog," and more.

The Automatons got a right bruising with the patch. Devastators, Berserkers, and Tanks have received decreased armor or head health. Tank weak spots now have a health pool separate from the vehicle's total health, and damaging it "150% damage to the Tank's main health." Recently equipped with laser cannons, the Hulk Bruiser had said weapon reverted to the standard rocket launcher. And you have John?? Helldiver to thank, according to the team.

"In response to th??eir disapproval of a newly installed cannon on the Automaton Hulk Bruisers, Super Earth High Command sent a crack commando to sabotage their production facilities," read the patch notes. "The skilled operative promptly escaped into the shadows after completing their mission. Today, still wanted by the Automatons, they survive as a soldier of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can enlist�John Helldiver"

John isn't the only one having fun. According to the notes, the famous General Brasch is coming home from his "??holiday retreat in foggy? hillside town." I suddenly feel a bit sorry for Pyramid Head. But only a little.

The 60-day patch notes for Helldivers 2 ?are extensive, so be s?ure to give it a good read before your next drop.

The post The Helldivers 2 day-60 ??patch arrives with dozens of new?? buffs and changes covering weapons and enemies appeared first on Destructoid.

In August, Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead Games announced a 60-day plan to improve the game and win back the hearts and minds of its community. Sadly, the planned 60-day patch is getting pushed until next week, but it's for a good reason.

Creative director Johan Pilestedt and design director Niklas Malmborg announced that the 60-day patch will now be the 63-day patch, releasing on Tuesday, October 15. Why the delay? Well, apparently, someone at Arrowhead for??got to check what d??ay the deadline would fall on.

It's a Saturday, and, as Pilestedt and?? Malmborg explained in a short video clip, Arrowhead doesn't release patches on the weekend. The reason? They "don't want to break the game while you're playing the game." The patch has been delayed to avoid a scenario where would-be weekend divers are stuck doing something else, like playing another game or visiting family (shudders).

But the good news is that the duo? have teased what the patch is bringing next week.

Arrowhead teases what's inside the 60-day 63-day patch

To whet your appetite, Pilestedt and Malmborg took a few moments in the clip to tease what the 63-day patch will contain. Yes, just like the massive patch we got last month, the next one buffs even more weapons.

• Flak is coming to the Autocannon
• The Recoilless Rifle is getting programmable ammo
• The Scorcher will receive "automatic fire"
• A change is coming to the Stalwart
• You'll be able to retrieve and activate your backpack drones manually

It's a nice list, even though at least one teas?e feels like a tease. I mean, what change is coming to the Stalwart? Don't hold out on me, Arrowhead. You know I love the Stalwart.

Among the changes, being able to reca??ll and send out your backpack drone is something I never knew I wanted until now. It'll certainly help when I'm playing Helldive missions and I need my drone to not shoot the near??by bug patrol, thank you very much.

The full patch notes will?? arrive on October 15. Until then, happ??y weekend diving.

The post The Helldivers 2 day-60 patch becomes the day-63 patch, and Arrowhead teases what’s to come appeared first on Destructoid.

Do you know what my favorite anime of all time is? Okay, the headline may contain a spoiler. But yes, Cowboy Bebop swept me away when it arrived so many years ago. I'm also a big fan of Helldivers 2. If only someone woul??d chocolate this peanut butter.

Apparently, someone has. Last week, Reddit user Dorintin posted a video to the Helldivers subreddit that smashes up two of my favorite things of all time. Their Helldivers X Cowboy Bebop video combines the show's intro with its funky beats with Helldivers 2 footage. And it all works.

Time to blow this joint

The mashup video uses gameplay clips of Helldivers 2 set to the tone and style of the Cowboy Bebop intro. Classic scenes were replaced by helldivers, their weapons, and their ships. Instead of a handgun firing, it's the railgun. The Super Destroyer of Helldivers 2 takes the place of Spike's iconic ship, the Swordfish II, and the Bebop itself. Dorintin also included credits fea??turing the names of the Arrowhead Games' development team. All in all, the video is a stylish juxtaposition of two incredible properties.

I will, however, admit that the idea isn't unique. A similar video, Helldivers Bebop, somehow went under my nose when Reddit user Super00_ posted it to the same subreddit s??ix months ago. The setup is nearly the same, but I did have to sustain a laugh at the lighter scene.

Dorintin writes that they started making the video in March. They performed most of the work, but their partner lent a hand by recording game?play clips. The project? was a bit touch and go, however.

"There's a lot of stupid clipping in the comp but I started this back in March, forgot about it fo?r 5 months," They wrote in the thread. "File got corrupted, I unfucked it and I figured now that it's mostly done might as well post it."

Helldivers 2 isn't the only space-age property to get the Bebop treatment. Four years ago, YouTube channel Sholty Productions published a video starring the rough-and-tumble dwarves of Deep Rock Galactic in their own Cowboy Bebop collab. Maybe there's just s??ome kind of magic that happens w?hen you combine the energetic jazz of the Seatbelts with space-based shenanigans.

Will this send me down a rabbit hole where I attempt to find more video game X Cowboy Bebop collaboration videos? Possibly. What?ever happens, happens.

The post Someone ma????shed up two of my favorite things ever in this Helldivers X Cowboy Bebop video appeared first on Destructoid.

The Golden Joystick Awards 2024 has nominated Astro Bot, Helldivers 2, Dragon's Dogma 2, and other renowned games for Console Game of the Year. Fan-favorite titles like Animal Well and Balatro have also? been recognized as PC Game of the Year nominees.

The awards show takes place on Thursday, November 21, 2024, and will be streamed live from London, UK, for all to see. This will be the 32nd time the awards will take place. As the awards are mostly based on community votes, you can have your say here. There are 19 different categories this year that fans can vote on, including Bes??t So??undtrack and Best Audio Design, which have been introduced this year. Some of the awards and their nominees are:

Console Game of the Year

• Astro Bot
• Dragon’s Dogma 2
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Helldivers 2
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

PC Game of the Year

• Animal Well
• Balatro
• Frostpunk 2
• Satisfactory
• Tactical Breach Wizards
• UFO 50

Best Early Access Game

• Enshrouded
• Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
• Hades II
• Manor Lords
• Lethal Company
• Palworld

Best Indie Game

• Animal Well
• Arco
• Balatro
• Beyond Galaxyland
• Conscript
• Indika
• Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
• Thank Goodness You’re Here!
• The Plucky Squire
• Ultros

Best Multiplayer Game

• Abiotic Factor
• EA Sports College Football 25
• Helldivers 2
• Sons Of The Forest
• Tekken 8
• The Finals

Overall, Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth lead the pack at the Golden Joystick Awards 2024 with five nominations each, with Helldivers 2 closely behi??nd on four. More category winners will be revealed during the night by a panel of full-time and freelance journalists who work with GamesRadar, PC Gamer, FGS, Edge Magazine, and Retro Gamer. Those awards include:

• Streamersâ€?Choice Award
• Breakthrough Award
• Best Game Adaptation
• Criticsâ€?Choice Award

The post Golden Joystick Awards 2024 nominate??s Astro Bot and Helldivers 2 for Console Game of the Year appeared first on Destructoid.

On reflection, the big buff patch that arrived on Helldivers 2 last week was just about everything the community wanted. The weapons are buffed, enemies are reworked, and things seem to be back on the rise. But what are the biggest chang??es from the patch?

The biggest changes brought by the Helldivers 2 buff patch 1.001.100

To answer that question, I decided to get my boots dirty. No, I didn't cherry-pick what I felt were the most significant changes from the list of patch notes. I dove. I dove hard. Starting last week and through the weekend, I dropped on bug- and bot-infested planets, putting the patch to the test.? It was a scien?tific process. And by that, I mean I squished and dismantled many enemies. It was great.

Here are the biggest changes introduced by the Helldivers 2 buff patch, aka Patch 1.001.100, i?n no ??particular order.

11. Flamethrower is letting you cook

Let's get a big one out of the way first by discussing flamethrowers, recently the focus of the community's ire. Following the Escalation of Freedom update, the fire ????effect of the Flamethrower was nerfed, removing its ability to pierce armor. The feature made it a good option against heavy foes like the Charger, but the nerf threatened to toss the Flamethrower back into the bin of obscurity.

The patch reversed the changes, return??ing the damage values to the Flamethrower and its armor penetration. Not only that, but Arrowhead also increased the damage of the other fire-based weapons, such as the Torcher and Crisper.

Since the patch, I've used the Flamethrower in several Terminid missions, ??and it feels fantast?ic. Few things are more satisfying than cooking a dozen bugs before turning it against a Charger �and winning. It's also effective on Bile Titans, making it possibly the most versatile weapon on bug planets.

10. Helldivers' health rework needs more work

Helldiver damage zones have been changed with the patch. Headshots do less damage to?? Helldivers (50% extra damage as opposed to 100%), so getting sniped by your own "Guard Dog" Rover won't be as frequent. But following the patch, you receive more damage to your limbs and torso.

The change has led some players to refer to Helldivers as "Squishdivers," poking fun at how much easier it is to die now. The changes to player weak points work with the alterations made to Heavy enemy health and armor values, preventing things? from feeling like a one-sided slaughter. Sure, it's easier to topple a Bile Titan, but getting swarmed is that much scarier.

I should know. For the most part, I feel the health changes aren't terrible but can use some tweaks. Some of my earliest deaths were due to me needing to retrain how I move in a fight. You don't live long if you don't have your head on a swivel, and it's wis?e to dive the moment a claw comes into view.

Against bots, though, and things are a bit harsher. A couple of laser blasts from downtown mig??ht be all that's needed to bring you to your knees. It's a bit too easy to get shredded when facing off against Automatons in Difficulty 7 ??and higher. Some fixes are needed, especially on the bot front. Until then, using a Shield Pack is certainly an option.

9. The Railgun is back on the menu

It's been so long since the Railgun has been a viable option that I nearly forgot the support weapon ever existed. And that's not a good thing. The Railgun was my support weapon of choice in the early days of Helldivers 2, back when it could mysteriously one-shot a Bile Titan with a headshot. That changed with the game's first balance patch.

Thankfully, the buff patch has managed to resurrect the Railgun. While it doesn't quite have the "kapow" it used to, I found it to be a great pick against heavy bots like? the Hulks. The weapon also still works well if you overcharge a few shots at a Charger's leg to strip the armor. It's just like the good ol' days of, er, seven months ago.

8. The Eruptor lives up to its name once again

Another favorite weapon of mine in Helldivers 2 is the Eruptor, introduced by the Democratic Detonation Premium Warbond. Its standout feature is its shell that explodes into shrapnel, capable of shredding flesh and metal. Well, it was, until the shrapnel was removed. The Eruptor's overzealous love of killing things meant that even divers were in its crosshairs and were torn down by ?white-hot shrapnel.

The buff patch returned shrapnel to the Eruptor's shots, but it's not quite the same. Now, the Eruptor's shots use frag grenade shrapnel, which shouldn't instantly kill nearby players with a random headshot. So far, that seems to be the case. I spent some time with the weapon, and I can report that the weapon's lethality against bugs and bots is higher than ever. It doesn't quite feel as deadly, but the Eruptor is finally a viable?? pick again.

7. Laser weapons don't suck anymore

Okay, hear me out: The Scythe is good. No, really. It's damn good following the buff patch. What was once a gun left to collect dust on mo?st players' Super Destroyer is, at last, a great primary option. Not only that, but the Dagger can also do some serious business.

Since the game's launch, the LAS-5 Scythe has been the butt of many jokes. Weak and prone to overheating, the laser-based rifle was rarely used more than once. But things are different now. The buff patch improved the weapon by reducing heat buildup, increasing damage, and allowing it to ??set enemies on fire faster than ever.

The Scythe cuts through Terminid swarms like it never could before, capable of taking out multiple Warriors and even a Brood Commander or two with a prolonged stream. It may even work better against Automatons. In my experience, I can rip through up to three Devast??ators in a row if you target their heads. The Dagger is also much better than before, and I have brought it along on bug hunts to swat Shriekers from the sky.

6. Thermite Grenade is worth taking

Let's face it: Practically no one recommended the Thermite Grenade when it became available. The slow-burning grenade dished out a measly 100 points of damage to an enemy it attached to. Against smaller chaff enemies, that's barely okay. Now? Hell, I rarely joined a party that didn't have at least one Helldiver packing the things. They're just too damn good, and everyone seems to know it now.

The grenade got a massive buff with the patch, which increased its damage from 100 to a staggering 2,000. Its fuse time was also decreased, meaning you didn't have to slap a Charger's ass wi??th one and then spend the next five seconds playing keep away. The downside? You can only bring three as opposed to four. Oh, no. Anyway, that's what the Engineering Kit Armor Passive is for.

5. Eagle 500kg Bomb goes BOOM

I love the Eagle 500kg Bomb, and I always have (and always will). But even I was completely a??ware that the massive explosion it emitted wasn't as deadly as it should have been. While the bomb was powerful, the radius of the explosion meant a lot of enemies were somehow able to walk away from it unscathed. No more.

The Eagle 500kg Bomb got an increased damage radius with the patch, and it's better than ever. It's nice to know that when you throw this mamma jamma at a group of enemies, all that'll be left are dust and echoes. Hell, I don't even half mind getting turned to ash because I mistook its current radius for the old one. Getting dusted along with about 40?? bugs is the Democratic way to go out.

4. Automaton Fabricator gets armor and a health pool

Once, the best way to remove an Automaton Fabricator, the machine that spawns more bots, was to toss a grenade into its vent or hit it with an Eagle or an orbital attack. That changed with the Commando, which could one-shot fabricators at any angle. And life was good. The ability to w??ipe out a fabricator from across the map was so beloved that many players demanded it stay.

The buff patch changed the fabricators, giving them both armor and health values. What does that mean? Well, the good news is that the change makes it possible for any weapon to destroy a fabricator. What was once a far more difficult task wasn't made mundane bu?t offered players more options when attacking bot bases.

The Commando can no longer wipe out a fabricator in one shot; it takes two instead. That's not a tough pill to swallow.? T??his is one of the best changes in the patch as it aligns with the community's desire for even more options.

3. Chargers of all kinds get a much-needed rework

Ah, finally, we have reached the Charger rework. The hulking heavy enemy of the undemocratic Terminid forces has been a hot-button topic among the Helldivers 2 community? since the game's launch. Taking one out was often a group effort, but fighting a single Charger was never the issue. They became a problem on higher difficulties, where you would suddenly need to contend with three or more at a time. The Ra??ilgun nerf only highlighted a greater need for combat options.

The Charger should be a threat, but at the same time, players must also be able to deal with more than one at a time �the patch fixes this in its own way. All variants of the Charger were reworked with the patch. Their armor and health values were decreased, and attacking exposed flesh increases damage dealt by a massive 300%. Chargers also charge less often, and their ability to turn on a dime while chasing you down was reduced. The Chargers I've faced are still scary, but fi?ghting severa??l at once is far more manageable.

2. Support weapon changes allows for even more variety

Support weapons are more viable now, thanks to the buff patch. Before, many players would pick from a shortlist of powerful options. The EAT, Quasar Cannon, and Recoilless Rifle we??re among the few support options that divers consistently took on missions. I've always liked the idea of the Laser Cannon, but the ar?mor of most heavy foes made the thing feel more like a big laser pointer.

Four weapons most players wouldn't take against heavies are now useful against them. The ??Laser Cannon, Heavy Machine Gun, Autocannon, Flamethr??ower, and the Anti-Materiel Rifle can dish out damage to heavy enemies. It's a strange feeling to sprint up to a Bile Titan and start cooking its belly with the Laser Cannon, but I'd be damned if it didn't work. And it's a lot of fun. Yes, team, hurting enemies with weapons that should hurt is somehow a positive change that took months to be delivered.

1. Emote wheel... just emote wheel

Last but certainly not least, the patch included a feature that players have demanded for more than half a year: An emote wheel. The hug emote has been?? the universal pick since its inception, but sometimes you just want to salute a mini-nuke explosion or play rock, paper, scissors while waiting for the shuttle to arrive. You get four customizable options for emotes, letting you high-five, salute, get your finger pulled, or hug it out, all in the same mission. What a t??ime to be alive.

The post The 11 biggest c??hanges from the big Helldivers 2 buff ?patch after days of tests appeared first on Destructoid.

God Of War Ragnarok's PC port followed Sony's largely disliked strategy of requiring players to already have or create a PSN account to link to Steam in order to run. Luckily, we just learned from VGC modder iArtorias came to the rescue by creating a mod called NoPSSDK. It adds a small library that stri??ps the game of its unnecessary PSN requirement.

Sony's strategy could, on paper, make sense for multiplayer games. Still, this measure proved disastrous as it caused Helldivers 2 to lose a devastating amount of players who lived in areas not covered by the PSN's reach. Sony ended up reverting that decision, but a lot of damage had already been done to the confidence we all had in Sony. Concord migh?t have sadly been doomed from the start, but it also had t??his feature whose innate cumbersomeness certainly didn't help it gain any favor among PC-only players.

This is an especially strange move since we're talking about a single-player experience. Ghost Of Tsushima, the other big PlayStation title recently released on PC, didn't feature this requirement and did just fine. At a time when even EA is starting to let its upcoming big releases roam free on Steam, Sony should totally be taking the hint.

The mod has only been out? for a few hours, but it has already been downloaded over two thousand times, in case you're wondering how much everyone? dislikes this feature.

You can now play God Of War Ragnarok on PlayStation 5, and on PC via Steam, and you can download iArtorias' quality of life improvement mod right here at Nexusmods.

The post God of War Ragnarok ??mod fixes the d??umb PSN requirement from PC version appeared first on Destructoid.

Helldivers 2 fans are pretty happy with the game following the release of its 60-day update. Every b??uff and change feels solid. However, the massive improvement in gameplay has meant that frustrations with one item from the latest Warbond feel bigger than they actually are.

The Chemical Agents Warbond was released in Helldivers 2 a few days after the game's 60-day update. It brought with it a slew of chemical warfare-themed items like armor that?? looks like a hazmat suit, toxic gas-based Stratagems, and a healing sidearm called the Stim Pistol. But this last item, one that should help players out in ??a pinch, has become a slight source of frustration within the community. What should be a life-saver is definitely a meme at this point.

Stims only work if they hit

The Stim Pistol will provide a Helldiver with enough of a healing boost to survive their next hit. Provided the next hit isn't a Charger running them down or a misplaced Eagle 500KG Bomb. However, the healing a Helldiver is trying to p??rovide their teammates won't work at all if they can't la?nd the shot, and that's the toughest thing to do with this sidearm.

The problem is that it feels impossible to land a shot with the Stim Pistol. You can be in first person, aiming down sights, and have a Helldiver running right at you, but you'll still miss. It's definitely possible to land shots? because I've seen players in the post-mission screens peppered with darts, but I have no idea how those darts found their mark.

If you've picked up the Warbond and are trying it out for yourself, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. If you're waiting to pick it up later, all you need to do is take one look at the Helldivers 2 subreddit to understand what's going on.

The Helldivers 2 community isn't worried about the issues with Stim Pistols, though. If this had happened before the 60-day update was released, it might have been the straw that broke the camel's back. With such a slew of buf??fs making the game as ?enjoyable as it was upon release, the Stim Pistol's inaccuracy fades into the background.

I have no doubt that developer Arrowhead Game Studios will fix the Stim Pistol in a future update. But nobody is that bothered about it right now. We've been spoiled with impeccable gameplay, a new Warbond, and even fantastic Superstore items. The game is in a great place at the time of writing, and you can see that in the community's reaction to weapon in?accuracy now compared to what it would have been just a week or so ago.

The post Helldivers 2’s most helpful weapon has created a frustrating problem appeared first on Destructoid.

The MLS-4X Commando is an anti-tank Stratagem in Helldivers 2 that may just replace the one you call your favorite. A laser-guided, ??quad-m?issile launcher, the Commando can chew through enemy big boys in the right hands.

The Commando is available for purchase via the Ship Management system for a mere 8,000 Requisition Points. It's a paltry sum for one of the best Stratagems you can add to your arsenal. Plus, its name is a movie reference! And as my editor will tell you with a heaving sigh, I can't get enough exhausting references from 1980s Arnold Schwarzenegger action flicks. Stick around... and le?arn how to best use the Commando.

How to use the MLS-4X Commando

The MLS-4X Commando is an anti-tank missile launcher. It provides its user with four missiles that, on impact, can wipe out most regular enemies. But it's more favored against armored elites, especial?ly those of the Automaton variety.

With a 120-second cooldown timer, the disposable Comma??ndo does take longer to replenish than the EAT-17 (at 70 seconds). The latter weapon, though, only gives you two shots per drop. For the money, the Commando edges out its competition in sever?al ways.

The missiles may be weaker than the EAT's rockets, but you can guide them toward enemies. To do so, hold your aiming button and line up an enemy with?? the blue laser beam. Once you have your target, pull the trigger and guide the missile as it flies. Keep the laser just ahead of your? target if it's moving. The further away an enemy is, the harder the shot. Try and stay at a medium distance.

Following these steps, you should be a??ble to master shooting the Commando. Though there are wrong ways to go?? about it.

Against many enemies, one missile is typically all you need. The Commando can stagger most enemy types as well, giving you ample time for a follow-up shot. It can take out Bile Spewers, Brood Commanders, and Devastators with a single hard slap to the face. But you'll likely end up using it against ?the Heavies, such as the Bile Titan and Hulk. So, how does the Commando fare?

Commando tips for Automaton forces and Elites

The MLS-4X Commando is best used against the vile Automaton forces of Helldivers 2. With slow-moving walkers ??with glowing weak points and flying ships, a laser-guided missile launcher feels right at home. Ignore most flak like the Automaton Trooper and save the Commando for the real bruisers.

One-shot kills:

• Berserker
• Devastator

  • Aim for the shoulder or head not covered by a shield when facing a Heavy Devastator.

• Hulks

  • Aim for the "eye" weak point to kill it with a single missile. Hitting the back vent may also destroy it in one shot.

Two-shot kills:

• Tanks

  • Two shots to the back vent should be all you need, but hitting the turret can also cause damage.

• Gunship

  • Striking the engine can destroy it in one shot, but it sometimes takes two.

• Dropship

  • These can go down in two or more shots if you aim at the engine pods.

The Factory Strider is a different kind of beast altogether. Its top-mounted gun can be destroyed by the Commando in two shots, which makes the weapon ideal against the walking beast. Dumping all four sho?ts to its face seems to dish out a lot of damage, but it is somewhat inconsistent. It's rec?ommended you hit the turret if you're at a distance or run up and fire into its belly when its Devastator bays are open.

The Commando can no longer destroy an Automaton Fabricator in one shot. One of the early selling points of the weapon was its ability to decimate a Fabricator with a single guided missile. This is no longer the case following Helldivers 2 Patch 1.001.100.

Automaton Fabricators have been reworked to have set health and armor values. Many heavy weapons with high penetration can destroy a Fabricator, but the amount of shots will differ. The Commando can blow up an Automaton Fabricator with two missiles. While it's not quite as effective against the bot-producing buildings, the missile launcher still does an admirab?le job.

Cannon Turrets can also be destroyed with two mi?ssiles without having to a??im for the weak point, and Mortar Emplacements are gone with one shot.

Commando tips for Terminid forces and Elites

Sadly, the Commando is less consistent against the bug menace. But looking at the EAT and Railgun, that's pretty par for the course these days. Terminids do have a lot of lar?ge targets, though, making hitting your foes mostly effortless.

One-shot kills:

• Bile Spewer
• Nursing Spewer
• Brood Commander
• Hive Guard

  • Try hitting the softer points behind its shielded head.

Two or more shots:

• Charger

  • The Charger's key weak points are always its legs after removing the armor, but with the Commando you can kill it with one to three missiles by hitting its head.

• Bile Titan

  • The Bile Titan once more proves to be inconsistent with weak points. You can kill it by shooting it in the head with two missiles, but don't be surprised if you dump all four and still get barfed on.

• Stalker

  • Hate these things.

It's probably best not to take the Commando ??against Terminid Objective targets, as it can t?ake multiple shots when a Hellbomb works better. It can destroy Bug Holes easily, though.

Flying enemies are also a no-go for the Commando. Instead, focus on the Heavies such as the Bile Titan and Chargers. You'll get enough of ??both if you play in Difficulty 7 and beyond.

Final thoughts

Overall, the MLS-4X Commando is an excellent Stratagem in Helldivers 2 and should be added to your armory as soon as possible. Given that it can destroy Fabricators with a single shot, the weapon is already in the top five. Naturally, it should be one of your top picks when it comes? to? facing Automatons.

I??t's useful against Terminids, but you won't get as much bang for your buck. Instead, you should still consider taking the EAT-17, as it hits harder than its younger cousin. You'll want that extra oomph when facing Bile Titans and Chargers, both of which can shrug off damage whenever they feel like it.

The post Helldivers 2: How to best use the MLS-4X Commando – Tips and strats appeared first on Destructoid.

The Bile Titan is akin to the general of the Terminid army in Helldivers 2. It's a massive beast, towering over everything on four tall legs. There are multiple ways to kill the Bile Titan in Helldivers 2, one of which is quick. Sometimes.

The best way to kill a Bile Titan in Helldivers 2 is by turning it to mulch with a powerful Secondary Weapon or Stratagem. Weapons like the?? EAT-17 and Quasar Cannon do a ton of damage to the hulking monstrosity, especially if ?you aim at its head �the Bile Titan's primary weak point.

How to kill a Bile Titan in Helldivers 2

It's up for debate how much damage a Bile Titan must take before toppling over like a stack of lawn chairs. A couple of shots to the face with an EAT can do it, but the bug may need more before you can convince it to give up the ghost. No, you can't fire away with the Railgun until its head expl??odes �not anymore, that is.

As far as Stratagems go, the Bile Titan isn't a fan of the Eagle 500kg Bomb or the Orbital Railgun. ??The latter is a better idea if you want to go for the kill shot, but keep in mind that the Titan may shrug off the first slug. Yes, it's a bit inconsistent. My favorite methods are the 500kg Bomb and the Orbital Laser. ?Keep in mind that the bomb beacon must be dropped in the Bile Titan's path. You can be smart about it, though.

The best method to kill a B??ile Titan ?with an Eagle 500kg Bomb:

• Get the Bile Titan's attention by shooting it or entering its view
• Allow the Titan to get close and prepare a bile spew
• As it begins the above, drop the beacon under the Titan and run

Helldivers 2: Bile Titan weak points

The Bile Titan is a Heavy enemy and, like the Charger, is coated in a heavy carapace that acts as armor save for a couple of squishy spots. For th??e Titan, the soft, green belly is a smart target for you and your team to take advantage of, and here's why.

The Bile Titan has two attacks based on distance. When close, the Bile Titan will stomp on you with its massive legs. If you're out of reach, it spews a jet stream of green bile that can kill y??ou in seconds. That's why you'll want to ?target its belly to stop it from firing acid.

Use weapons to inflict damage to its abdomen. The Bile Titan's belly, or its green abdomen, has its own health pool. After damaging it for long enough, you can pop the belly like a water balloon. Doing so wil??l remove the Bile Titan's ability to spew acid. Once the belly is gone, the abdomen gets a second health pool. Depleting its health will ultimately kill the Bile Titan for good. In other words, you can use contemporary weapons to kill a titan, but you'll need to aim for its soft spot from down below. Watch out for its "feet!"

Best weapons to use on the Bile Titan in Helldivers 2

Consider using these Support Weapons t?o kill the Bile Titan:

• EAT-17
• Quasar Cannon
• Recoilless Rifle
• Autocannon
• Spear
• Commando

Against the Titan's armor, the EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank works well. Try it as well as the Quasar?? Cannon, as they dish out the most damage quickly and reliably.

The sleeper hit from this list may be the Arc Thrower. It penetrates armor and can be fired from a con??siderable distance. The only drawback is that it can result in friendly-fire killings or prioritize smaller fries beneath it. You'd only want to use this weapon if the Bile Titan is by itself.

Do not use:

• Incendiary Grenade
• Stun Grenade

Do use the Thermite Grenade, which dishes out a staggering 2,000 points of damage. You can stick the grenade to any part of the Bile Titan to harm or kill it, but I suggest aiming for its soft belly. If you can't get a quic??k kill, you can at least remove its long-??range attack.

Best Stratagems to use on the Bile Titan in Helldivers 2

The best Stratagems for ??killing the Bile Titan are:

• Eagle 500kg Bomb
• Orbital Laser
• Orbital Railcannon Strike
• Orbital 380MM HE Barrage
• Rocket Sentry
• Autocannon Sentry
• Patriot Exosuit

Other S?tratagems that aren't listed here have reportedly worked for other p??layers, but the ones here have been more consistent overall.

You can also take down a Bile Titan using a sentry and some good planning. A Rocket?? ??or Autocannon sentry both do work against the beast, but you'll need to drop them well outside of its acid range.

The Exosuit mech is equipped with a heavy machine gun and rocket launcher. Three to four blasts with its rockets can take down a Bile Titan with ease. If you're ever in a pinch and need? some fast clearing, this glass cannon can be just what you need to ?turn the tide in battle.

Can you kill a Bile Titan with a Hellpod?

Killing a Bile Titan with? a Hellpod isn't the best idea unless it has already taken significant damage or has exposed flesh. While the titan does take damage, if you don't kill it with that one shot you'll fi??nd yourself in acid and leg range. It's a lot to ask from a human cannonball.

What else works against the Bile Titan? Well, for one lucky Helldiver, a Charger is a potent projectile when used properly.

The post Helldivers 2: How to kill a Bile Titan appeared first on Destructoid.

The Chemical Agents Warbond is out in Helldivers 2, and for those who want to g?et the best items for it right away, we’ll have you ??covered. Note that while there are better alternatives out there, you can still turn the tide of battle with our selections.

The best items from the Chemical Agents Warbond in Helldivers 2

The best items from the Chemical Agents Warbond are the G-4 Gas grenade, the “Guard Dog�Dog Breath, and the P-11 Stim Pistol. The armor is also decent if you’re going to run a heavy gas build so that you won’t accidentally die in the process of? suffocating your enem??ies.

G-4 Gas Grenade

This grenade mod will provide a lot of crowd control when thrown. If yo?u trigger enemy reinforcements or you just have a big mob of stuff coming at you, chuck one of these. It’ll kill smaller fries and make the medium and heavy enemies attack each other relentlessly.

While you are sacrificing utility, like destroying fabricators and? bug holes, ??this can get you out of a rough encounter by diverting enemy aggro.

“Guard Dog�Dog Breath

If you want to save your grenade slot for something like a Thermite, then the Dog Breath drone will be a powerful, passive, crowd-c??ontrolling tool. It’ll soften enemies up for you and even give them that gas effect to make them fight each other. 

This doesn’t have as much range as the other two drones, but it can help you escap??e a dicey situati??on much quicker. Don’t expect this to be your primary source of damage, though.

P-11 Stim Pistol

Lastly, the underdog of this Warbond has to be the Stim Pistol. It has its purposes, but mostly in settings where you’re actually communicating with teammates. In a squad full of randoms or playing solo, this will be a wasted slot.

With p?roper voice comms, you can safely heal someone who is getting swarmed or needs addi?tional healing in a pinch.

Unfortunately, with all tha?t said, the Sterilizer, or the gas equivalent of the Flamethrower, is not it. It’s a fun weapon, but compared to other things in this Warbond, it’s underwhelming. Stick to these three before getting that.

The post Helldivers?? 2: Best items from the Chemical Agents Warbond appeared first on Destructoid.

The big buff patch that arrived this week for Helldivers 2 apparently introduced a new bug that allows players to fly across the map. Man, what is it with emotes in Helldivers 2 and their ?ability to l?et players defy gravity with such confidence?

Players on the official Helldivers subreddit recently revealed the exploit. In a short video clip, a player rhythmically taps the Emote button to, well, teabag through the air with the greatest of ease.

According to the poster, the exploit was unintentionally discovered when they were trying to make use of a different exploit tied to emotes. In July, players learned that emoting while hurtling through the air may prevent lethal f??all damage. It looks like it's not just the weapons that got buffed by the patch.

Arrowhead can work on the Jump Pack later

Anyone who has played games long enough will understand that updates and patches can lead to bugs. Helldivers 2 is certainly no stranger to the idea. The game typically exper?iences issues brought by patches, ranging from new bugs to crashes. In this case, the bug was likely introduced by ??the new emote wheel function that was added by the update. I'd take surprise flying powers over a new way for the game to crash any day, thanks.

The bug will likely get fixed eventually. Emoting to prevent fall damage is a glitch that has remained, likely due to the Arrowhead CEO enthusiastically endorsing it. But flying for free isn't something I can see remaining in the game. If anything, those averse to gravity will have to wait for a Jump Pack buff, which is in the plans according to creative director Johan Pilestedt.

Until then, I expect to see my f??ellow divers tea-bagging their way across the land to power-squat on?? Shrieker Nests with authority. If we can't win this war with weapons, we'll do so with Slavic intimidation.

The post Forget the Jump Pack, the Helldivers 2 buff?? patch is letting pl?ayers fly appeared first on Destructoid.