The latest patch for Helldivers 2 has arrived, and after diving deep into it last night, I can confidently say it’s a game-changer. The new balance tweaks give players way more freedom to experiment with load-outs, and the weapons feel significantly more powerful. I rocked an explosive crossbow, revolver, thermite charge, and airburst rocket launcher, and for the first time in a while, I felt truly unstoppable. Even the flamethrower has been given a potent boost.
This update is a big win for players, addressing many concerns since the game’s release. Complaints about a nerf-heavy approach in a horde shooter, which often didn’t sit well with fans, have been acknowledged. During these rough patches, Space Marine 2 was released, and some Helldivers 2 players rallied behind it as the remedy to their frustrations, longing for the glory days of power fantasies and crushing swarms of enemies.
What’s funny is that, despite this comparison, Helldivers 2 and Space Marine 2 are quite different. While Helldivers 2 is a four-player co-op shooter with randomly generated missions and live-service elements, Space Marine 2 offers a linear campaign and a class-based co-op mode with fixed missions. They’re more like friendly neighbors than rivals living in the same house.
Amid a debate on the game’s subreddit about the superiority of one game over the other, Johan Pilestedt, Arrowhead Games’ CCO, stepped in with a message of calm. Amidst the rants and chants from players, he brought a diplomatic touch:
“Thank you for all your amazing feedback, and it’s amazing to finally see so many divers return. We are now looking to the day 60 patch, which will bring some more exciting changes!” Pilestedt shared. “I just wanted to pop in here and say that I think we should be grateful for getting several awesome games. I can’t even imagine how I, as a kid, would have felt to be able to play Helldivers and Space Marine 2. They are different games, but you can enjoy as many games as you want!”
Pilestedt’s response was a calming reminder amidst the storm of fan feuds. The ongoing battle of allegiance between game communities has always baffled me—players sometimes treat their favorite titles like sports teams, as if enjoying one means you can’t appreciate the other. It’s particularly fitting given the universes both games are set in, where authoritarian superpowers are constantly at odds with themselves.
In a way, the rivalry is almost part of the satire, with Pilestedt stepping in as a voice of reason—much like the Warhammer universe’s Emperor of Mankind, who, despite being stuck in a psychic coma and reliant on daily sacrifices to keep the galaxy from falling apart, remains a symbol of leadership. Though I suppose we’re not supposed to be learning life lessons from video games anymore, so maybe just forget I said that part.
