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Helldivers 2 developer explains patrol adjustments to game difficulty

Helldivers 2 Patch Increases Enemy Patrols for Solo Players

The latest Helldivers 2 patch brings a significant update to enemy patrols, especially for teams with less than four players. Initially, the patch notes stated that patrol spawning has been increased for teams with fewer than 4 players. This change is aimed at providing a more challenging experience for solo players, who already face difficulties in the game. Players have noticed a considerable difference in gameplay, prompting discussions on platforms like Reddit.

Insight from Arrowhead Game Studios

In a Reddit post shared on April 29th, an associate community manager from Arrowhead Game Studios shed light on the rationale behind the increased patrols for solo and duo players. The design director explained that the previous patrol spawns for smaller teams were unintentionally low and should have been higher from the beginning. The post mentioned that the intention is for 1 player to encounter 1/4th of the patrols compared to a full team, but the actual ratio was closer to 1/6th.

Linear Patrol Scaling

The development team has implemented a linear scaling system for patrols, ensuring that solo players now encounter 25% of the patrols compared to a full team, up from the previous 17%. Similarly, duo and trio squads will face 50% and 75% of the patrols on their missions, respectively. Despite the increase in patrols, there is a cap to prevent overwhelming encounters, especially in high-density situations like extractions.

The goal of these changes is to create a more immersive and challenging experience for players, particularly those embarking on solo missions. With the world feeling more dynamic and populated, solo players will need to strategize and adapt to the increased threat levels posed by the enhanced patrols.