Helldivers 2 introduces a super-powered Mech Suit to retain players
Helldivers 2 is aiming to reverse a slow but steady slide in player numbers by introducing an enticing super-powered mech suit.
The Next Major Order: Liberate Planet Varylia-5
The makers of Helldivers 2 revealed the next Major order today: free the planet Varylia-5 from the “despicable” Automaton Petafactory. In addition to the 50 medals awarded for completing the order, Super Earth will turn the Automaton facility into a factory for the EXO-49 Emancipator Exosuit, a dual-Autocannon mech suit.
Exciting announcement on Twitter
The Autocannon is one of the most enjoyable power weapons to wield in the game, and the thought of pairing two to form an exosuit mech appeals to any libertarian. Especially given the issues players have expressed over the fragility of the present exosuit. Will this bright new toy be enough to entice players back?
The player peaks and averages for Helldivers 2, according to Steam data, have steadily declined since the game launched. In May, the game averaged less than 80,000 players and reached a peak of less than 200,000 for the first time this year.
This is not due to anything specific that Sony and Arrowhead Game Studios did wrong. Even the PSN account-linking fiasco didn’t result in any serious dropoff in player numbers. In reality, the repeal of the account-linking mandate decreased the rate at which players were leaving.
This isn’t to say the game hasn’t been a success as former CEO and now Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt confirmed over 12 million units sold. Helldivers 2 is in an interesting position, however, as a live-service type game that’s purely co-op with no multiplayer mode, and perhaps the lack of a competitive mode or major changes like a new enemy faction is making it hard to keep players around.