Spreading managed democracy has never been as much fun as it is in Helldivers 2, and it just got popular again. After rising to become one of 2024’s biggest hits, the fantastic co-op game slowly started to drop back down the Steam charts as newer games arrived. That was further exacerbated by some discontent with the game’s balance and the kerfuffle around PlayStation Network account linking. Developer Arrowhead has worked hard to bring the game back to greatness, however, and now the arrival of its long-awaited third faction is propelling Helldivers 2 back into the stratosphere once more.
Hot off the heels of its wins for best multiplayer game and best ongoing game at The Game Awards 2024, Arrowhead has launched the Helldivers 2 update we’ve all been waiting for. As someone who poured a lot of hours into the original, top-down Helldivers, I’ve been eager to see how the Illuminate would translate into the sequel’s grand-spectacle shooter format. The third and final piece of the interplanetary puzzle is a highly advanced alien force that has been absent from the galaxy for almost a century – but now they’re back.
I still have nightmares of taking on the Illuminate in the first game. Their shield walls interrupt your space, and their disruption blasts temporarily scramble your controls. Their Helldivers 2 incarnation is just as terrifying, boasting the ability to mind control the citizens of Super Earth and twist them into a nefarious force known as the Voteless. They’re led by more elite units boasting all manner of long-range weapons and personal shields, and a War of the Worlds style colossus with a giant laser cannon.
Perhaps even more scary is having to fight them on the city streets. Helldivers 2, for the most part, has kept to fairly open spaces – and while that’s made some encounters against the Automatons particularly troublesome, it means there’s always somewhere to run. Now, you’re forced into more close-quarters confrontations, having to navigate the streets and alleyways in a desperate attempt to not be surrounded by the Voteless hordes.
The good news is that the Helldivers are fighting back in style, as a new Fast Recon Vehicle lets all four players jump in together. The driver gets to have their fun smashing the armored truck through the Illuminate masses, while the passengers can lay down suppressive fire from the windows. A new Helldivers 2 Warbond titled ‘Urban Legends’ has also arrived, and includes a new directional shield stratagem, a stun lance, a flame sentry, and an anti-tank emplacement. You can even put turrets on your resupply pods.
This new update was Helldivers 2’s best chance to reclaim its lost momentum, and so far it looks to be working. In the past 24 hours, the game has hit a peak of 150,169 concurrent Steam players – the highest it’s seen since April, right before the initial controversy around its proposed PSN account linking requirement. Recent reviews, meanwhile, are up to ‘overwhelmingly positive,’ with 95% of users recommending the game over the past 30 days. If you want to join in and haven’t yet, there’s even a Steam sale.
Helldivers 2 is 20% off on Steam until Wednesday December 18, meaning you’ll pay $31.99 / £27.99 for your copy. The Omens of Tyranny update and Urban Legends Warbond are both available now. Head here to take a look for yourself.
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