We're almost halfway through developer Arrowhead's self-imposed 60-day plan to win back the affections of the notoriously raucous Helldivers 2 player base, and the developer has offered a sneak peek at some of the changes in store. Presumably, we can expect the game's next major patch to arrive around 14th October.
As reported by IGN, it seems like Arrowhead has put away the nerf-mallet and taken up the buff-hammer, with the poorly treated flamethrower getting a flat 33% damage increase, as well as increased armour penetration: "Flamer mechanics will be reverted to the state before the Escalation of Freedom update and flame based weapons can now damage heavier enemies like Chargers, Bile Titans, Impalers, and Hulks."
Per Arrowhead, here is a small taste of some of the changes coming to the game:
- We are reworking Armor Penetration, Anti-Tank weapons and enemy armor and health values. As a key part of the rework we have done an initial balancing pass on over 30 weapons and stratagems.
- We are overhauling a number of different enemies to make them feel more rewarding to kill when you use the proper tools to handle them but ensure they still feel formidable. Enemy bots, including Hulks, will have lower armor, and the number of rockets fired by enemies like the Devastator and Gunship will be limited, making combat more balanced. The armor values of particularly tough bug enemies like the Charger, Impaler, and Bile Titan will also be reduced.
- Weapons such as the Autocannon, Heavy Machine Gun, and Anti-Material Rifle will be more effective, providing greater loadout versatility. We are also working towards additional improvements for the flamethrower weapons.
- We’re taking this opportunity to consider new player fantasies and design goals for these weapons and stratagems based on the feedback we’ve received and the trends we’re observing during gameplay.