Summary
Helldivers 2developer Arrowhead Studios has addressed recent community uproar concerning changes to the game’s ricochet mechanics. Following the 01.000.300 patch forHelldivers 2, players reported an increased frequency of deaths caused by ricocheting projectiles, even from explosives like rockets.
The latest01.000.300 update forHelldivers 2brought with it a host of tweaks, including adjustments to weapon damage, enemy difficulty, and stratagems. One specific change involved ricochet mechanics, which has led to widespread issues among players, as clips shared across social media showcase Helldivers inexplicably dying very frequently from their own ricochets, even those involving rockets and explosives. A Redditor investigated the anomaly, and found the culprit to be the R-36 Eruptor, an explosive weapon that generates shrapnel upon detonation. While ricocheting bullets was the initial point of contention, it turned out that the shrapnel from the Eruptor was actually causing the unexpected casualties. The analysis suggested that other weapons with shrapnel effects might exhibit similar behavior, but the Eruptor was the most problematic.
Arrowhead Studios wasted no time in addressing the community’s concerns, posting a statement on Reddit, acknowledging the issue withHelldivers 2’s R-36 Eruptorand announcing planned fixes for the weapon. To eliminate the possibility of damage induced by shrapnel, the Eruptor’s shrapnel effect will be entirely removed. However, to maintain the weapon’s effectiveness, Arrowhead will increase its direct hit damage. This tweak will ensure that the Eruptor remains “less lethal to the operator but just as powerful against enemies.” Arrowhead sees this as a buff for the Eruptor, and so the weapon’s explosive classification, area-of-effect damage, and its ability to destroy objects, shut holes, and obliterate fabricators will remain unchanged.
At the end of the statement, Arrowhead thanked theHelldivers 2community for bringing the issue to its attention by way of diligent investigation. The studio’s swift response and commitment to player satisfaction is also commendable, as the investigation of the Eruptor was posted only a few hours before Arrowhead’s announcement. Fans of the co-op shooter appear to be generally a fun bunch as well, with some community members drawing up alist of unspoken rules afterHelldivers 2launched.
Arriving onto the live-service shooter scene back in February,Helldivers 2has been an unprecedented success for Arrowhead. The co-op shooter has consistently ranked high in Steam’s most-played charts and has reportedly sold over 8 million copies across PS5 and PC. Part of the success is Arrowhead’s consistent tempo of updates, fixes, and Warbonds forHelldivers 2, as well as quick reactions to community feedback. Thanks to the studio’s dedication,Helldivers 2appears well-positioned to maintain its momentum for months to come.
Helldivers 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Do you believe in freedom? Can you stand in the face of oppression – and defend the defenceless? Wage war for peace. Die for democracy.Join forces with up to three friends and wreak havoc on an alien scourge threatening the safety of your home planet, Super Earth, in this multiplayer co-op shooter for PS5 and PC from Arrowhead Game Studios.Step into the boots of the Helldivers, an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty and Managed Democracy using the biggest, baddest and most explosive tools in the galaxy.Helldivers don’t go planet side without proper backup, but it’s up to you to decide how and when to call it in. Not only do you have a host of superpowered primary weapons and customizable loadouts, you also have the ability to call on stratagems during play.Helldivers 2 features Arrowhead’s best cooperative gameplay yet. Collaboration will be vital: Teams will synergize on loadouts, strategize their approach for each mission and complete objectives together.1Enlist in Super Earth’s premier military peacekeeping force today. We are heroes… we are legends… WE ARE HELLDIVERS.
