After the Hellstalkers 2 community erupted in backlash over the game’s recent “Free Upgrades” update, developer Arrowhead has been busy gathering feedback in a variety of different ways. Now, the studio has revealed plans to act on that feedback, which includes making some changes over the next 60 days.
If you’re not aware, some of the fire damage nerfs in the Freedom Upgrade update seemed to be the final straw for many players, with many questioning whether Arrowhead had taken the right approach to balancing. Some even tried to get Automata to reach Super Earth during the game’s Galactic Wars in protest of the tweaks.
Manage Cookie Settings
Now, Arrowhead has shared details of its plans to act on the feedback it received for the update, via a post on the Helldivers 2 subreddit. “Our latest update fell short of our goals,” wrote game director Mikael Eriksson in the post, “There were things we did wrong – as well as other more fundamental inconsistencies in our game balance and direction for the game.
“All of this is our responsibility, and we will take responsibility. As many of you have pointed out, and we agree, what matters most now is action, not words.”
The developer went on to outline that the studio’s “goals for the next 60 days” are to accomplish the following:
- Continue to revisit our approach to balancing. Our intention is that balancing should be fun, not just balancing for the sake of balancing.
- Updated fire damage mechanics to adjust how the flamethrower works as a close support weapon. (Quick direct recovery doesn’t work because it would damage other things)
- Reworked gameplay to prevent excessive ragdoll play
- Rethink our approach to primary weapon design and develop a plan to make combat more engaging
- Reprioritize bug fixes to prioritize those that have a more direct impact on gameplay.
- Improve game performance (frame rate is the key)
In addition to this roadmap, the studio said its long-term goals are to improve the way it communicates updates and explains balance changes, as well as to get more community feedback through player surveys. [the] Creating an optional beta testing environment to improve our testing processes is also in the works, with Eriksson highlighting this goal as “something we consider a high priority.”
After Arrowhead shared the plan, CEO Shams Jorjani also confirmed in a tweet that the studio will “absolutely be updating the game over the 60-day period, if not longer.”
What do you think of Arrowhead’s plans? If you’re not happy with the changes in the Freedom Upgrade update, do they make you feel more optimistic about the direction Helldivers 2 is headed in terms of balance and feedback? Let us know below!
