Helldivers 2, the third-person live-service shooter from Arrowhead Game Studios, received its first update on March 6, 2023. The patch introduced several changes to the game, such as:
- New weather events, such as fire tornadoes and meteor showers, that add more challenge and variety to the missions.
- Balance adjustments to many weapons and equipment, aiming to reduce the dominance of certain meta picks and encourage more diversity and experimentation.
- Bug fixes and performance improvements.
Why are fans upset with the patch?
The patch did not go over well with many fans of the game, who felt that the changes made the game harder, less fun, and less rewarding. Some of the main complaints were:
- The weather events are too random, too frequent, and too deadly, making the missions frustrating and unfair.
- The nerfs to popular weapons, such as the breaker, railgun, and shield pack, were too harsh and unnecessary, reducing their effectiveness and enjoyment.
- The buffs to other weapons were not enough to compensate for the nerfs, leaving many options still underpowered and unviable.
- The patch did not address some of the major issues of the game, such as the lack of content, the poor matchmaking, and the server instability.
Many fans expressed their dissatisfaction and feedback on the game’s official Discord and subreddit, hoping to get the attention of the developers and persuade them to revert or modify the patch.
How did the developers respond to the feedback?
The developers of Helldivers 2, who are known for being active and communicative with the community, responded to some of the feedback on the Discord and subreddit. However, some of their responses were seen as dismissive, sarcastic, and rude by the fans, who felt that they were not being listened to or respected. For example:
- One developer said that watching the fans cry amused him so much.
- Another developer said that people who complained about the difficulty had a “skill issue” and should “get good”.
- A third developer said that the fans who wanted the old meta back were “boring” and “lazy”.
These comments sparked more anger and backlash from the fans, who accused the developers of being arrogant, unprofessional, and out of touch. Some fans even threatened to boycott the game or leave negative reviews.
What did the CEO say about the situation?
The CEO and creative director of Arrowhead Game Studios, Johan Pilestedt, intervened in the situation and posted a comment on the subreddit, apologizing for the behavior of his team and assuring that action was being taken. He said:
Hey! Thank you for bringing this up, this is not the intention from the studio perspective. But since I am a heavy subscriber of a communicative studio it means that I encourage developers to engage with the community. However this also exposes us to risks of miscommunication or heated arguments and it’s something that we actively discuss internally at the studio to improve on. While I understand that it reflects on the studio as a whole, it is not our intention that this should be the behavior from us. We want to ensure that you all have the best time possible in this game and in this community. As for the balance patch and the opinions surrounding it, we actively read as much as we possibly can and take what is said into consideration when we discuss things internally.
He also said that he was “extremely disappointed” with the dev behavior and that it was “horrible”. He said that he would talk to the devs and make sure that they understood the consequences of their actions. He also thanked the fans for their support and feedback, and asked them to be patient and constructive.
What’s next for Helldivers 2?
It is unclear whether the patch will be reverted, modified, or kept as it is. The developers have not announced any plans or updates regarding the patch or the game. The fans are divided on whether they want the patch to stay or go, and whether they trust the developers or not. Some fans are hopeful that the situation will improve and that the game will get better, while others are pessimistic and disillusioned. The future of Helldivers 2 depends on how the developers and the fans can resolve their differences and find a common ground.
