My Opinion and Disscuion on the State of Helldivers 2.

[Zeek Xekri]

First off i have ADHD so if my explanations suck and are super long but bear with me. with a side note i don't believe my ideas are better then what the devs are planning and my worries are based off of long time data from other PVE only live service games, if you respond to this post please be reasonable with your response. I also hold no ill will against the game so please don't read this as me hating on the game.

So (With Democracy Memes aside) straight to the point, there are some big things I've seen with PVE Only live service like games that I'm also seeing with Helldivers 2 that worry me, simple enough there is nothing to Care about at the current time in the game, the gameplay I feel is all the game really has because the game is super fun to play but in the end it just feels like an endless war simulator, yes I know the Lore of the first game but there is more interesting lore for the Aliens' then for Super Earth, Super Earth really hasn't changed much we all know its a Fascist Democracy that wants all the resources and technology for itself and it feels like we are the bad guys in the galaxy. Currently I do have fun playing the game, I'm level 75 with everything other then super credits maxed out, I feel the game will suffer from what Deep rock Galactic did where its fun to play but there's nothing really to keep you around when the next big game comes out, yes there will always be a dedicated fan base to the game but most people will play the game for fun by their self or with friends, play for an hour or so a day, play till their bored and move on to another game or to max everything out and that's basically it.

Now a lot of people will say "Well Counterstrike, Cod, Apex, etc doesn't have much of a story and their doing ok" but the big thing about those games is they have a big Competitive player base where people like to win and dominate other players in a competitive environment, Since Helldivers is not PVP it needs to rely on Gameplay, New Updates, and Story/Lore to keep people playing the game. The Updates are great but the new content really only lasts a few days or so and people will come back to check it out but they may not stick around. Honestly when it comes to the current story of Helldivers 2 it just feels similar to the first game, We fight Aliens, force one of them out of the galaxy, a new Aliens type shows up and later the one we forced out comes back (because why get rid of all those assets just because the players won).

Mind you my worries come from seeing the player numbers go down over time (mind you i only have steam charts to go off of but still) and when i think "what would bring players back or get new people that look at the game and are on the fence about it" I think about something super surprising happening that you wouldn't think the Devs would do, Now gameplay wise i know of a few things that would bring players back from a Clan system with unlockable things as a clan like maybe a huge ship with stuff you can unlock on it with samples or its own clan warbond, (because a clan system by itself with players in a list is very boring), weapon upgrades or attachments, maybe more fun things to do on the ship?, i feel like we need a shooting range and more characters with their own stories or lore.

Honestly what would keep me in this game would be a surprise out of left field, for Example a 5th alien race that crash lands on a planet in a huge ship that was shot down by the 4th enemy alien race that we come to fight, i always felt like a 4th enemy would be something like Necromorphs from dead space where its something far more evil then anything in super earths galaxy and wants to consume all, and the 5th alien race i would want to ally with super earth, as for what the 5th alien race would look like (and bear with me here because i have a good reason for it) I feel like they should look similar to a Nimbat (A Species from dust an elysian tail) I know what your thinking and the reason i pick that Species is because if you want an allied alien race for humanity i feel humanity would be more comfortable with a race that's visually appealing (and Marketable) also the whole ugly alien thing or skin/scales is over used at this point there really isn't many Fuzzy alien races, Plus i know they cant just use the Nimbat design but if feel they could make something visually appealing that people would come to love and want to fight for and yes i know people will say "I don't want furries in my game" but that's the reason we don't have many races/species that have fur in games because people for some reason are weirded out by that, fur creatures can have good lore too, i mean Palicos in monster hunter worked out fine. an example story would go as follows.

One day we get an order to investigate a planet that something crashed on, we go there to find an unknown enemy that just straight up attacks us (it would be cool if nothing had names when you mark them because we wouldn't know what they are till the 5th alien race tells us about it, also main missions where we need to complete so many side objectives since we are investigating and have no real main objectives at the moment) now most missions would be to rescue Escape pods, recover alien tech, clear out the 4th alien races forces and such, now at this point we don't know what the 5th alien race is and we wouldn't know till the next major order, once the 5th alien race is revealed we discover they are a small but very intelligent species that their planet was destroyed by said 4th alien race and have come to seek aid from Humanity, now knowing super earth they would agree only if this 5th alien race gives up their technology and any info they have on the 4th enemy and universe, they may also require the 5th race to make new tech for war, since the 5th race is small they are good with micro technology and could make a lot of neat things from new attachments, weapon types, even Hellpod upgrades like a temporary shield when landing or grenade effects when landing, or for some a faster or slower decent for more damage on an enemy or more control over the pod with less damage. Now the 5th alien race would agree to super earths terms because they cant fight a war and their desperate, now as time goes on the 5th alien race would ask if we could help fix and retrieve their ship, maybe we might give them a planet to live on, and i feel having them on the super destroyer would be neat too, a character with a name that updates us on things with voice lines on the relationship and lore of what's going on between super earth and the 5th race, it would also be neat if later on they joined the war by piloting helldiver sized mechs or drones that who ever summoned them via stratagem could command what they attack or where they go, then when they run out of ammo or get destroyed a small escape pod pops out and flies back to the super destroyer, now as time goes on super earth begins to change because of this 5th alien race so things start to get weird yet interesting because your learning about this 5th alien race and what super earth thinks of them, politics from both races collided and mix things up and with this 4th alien race being an enemy to everything in the galaxy it would be cool to see contested sectors where in a mission half the map has on alien race and the other half has the 4th alien race with conflicts between them.

Now i understand the devs already have their own take on what they want the story to be and how it will play out in a live service game where players make the outcomes to situations but i feel like the game needs a better story then just 'Endless war' for resources to keep it going for years to come, i know my idea for the game sounds like fanfiction but i feel there needs to be something in the game that players would want to experience first hand with a real drive to complete and find out what happens next because at the moment super earth is a meme, the bots will return, and an endless war with no real outcome just gets boring after awhile, there isn't much to talk about other then things i cant mention here.

As for game improvements i wish there was a filter system for missions for quick play, a vote to kick system, an various improvements to sneaking and collision, because enemies seeing me through walls or from really far away with the sneaking armor is insane, also the aggro range needs fixing i feel because when i run away enemies still shoot/chase me from miles away. It would also be cool to have more ship customization and i don't mean colors (Because we all know people will just use the neon pink skin) but being able to customize the crew and ship design, Mind you i know the game only has so many people that can work on it and everything takes time and money to make, i know Rome wasn't built in a day but as someone who sits and thinks a lot on how good something can become, i see a lot of potential in this game for wild and amazing things because i look at other games with similar themes and see things that would fit very well in a game like this, plus surprising players with random new things is always neat. Also i feel we need a ship module set to upgrade how much Credits, samples, and medals we can store because i maxed out on them quick. I feel space battles would be awesome too or at least boarding and destroying enemy ships.

Mind you all of this is my Opinion oh how to improve the game for the future so its player base wont highly decrease like other PVE games as time goes on, i know the game is doing well now but can you 100% know if it will be like this a year from now, feel free to post your ideas here as well because i want to see what other people think as well to see if I'm crazy or not lol.

[Gabriel]

I'm not going to read all that but I like the idea of adding a grotesque alien race that goes around devouring worlds or some other dark sci-fi ♥♥♥♥. Something like the xel'naga in sc2.

[Fauxsteel]

I like turtles.

[Ryzilynt]

I started reading in good faith and couldn't get past the ADHD thing. Two times in a row.

My brain is stuck on why this was the opener. I can't get past it.

Best of luck.

I usually like walls of text.

[HADINI]

I would have to be on meth in order to write this much and assume that anyone wants to read this. I envy your confidence.

PS nobody cares about your self-diagnosed ADHD

[Zeek Xekri]

Originally posted by Born 2 Bust:

I would have to be on meth in order to write this much and assume that anyone wants to read this. I envy your confidence.

PS nobody cares about your self-diagnosed ADHD

Not self Diagnosed, i have several doctors and psychiatrists along with a the medical records to prove it, also thank you.

[Zeek Xekri]

Originally posted by Ryzilynt:

I started reading in good faith and couldn't get past the ADHD thing. Two times in a row.

My brain is stuck on why this was the opener. I can't get past it.

Best of luck.

I usually like walls of text.

The reason i mentioned this is because my ADHD makes it so i go off topic a lot, like ill explain one thing and in the middle of it ill just start explaining something else at what feels like random.

[Zeek Xekri]

Originally posted by Fauxsteel:

I like turtles.

I love Turtles, and Trains.

[The22nd]

AI TL:DR

The user expresses concerns about the longevity and depth of “Helldivers 2,” a PVE live service game. They note that while the gameplay is enjoyable, it lacks compelling content beyond the mechanics, feeling like an “endless war simulator.” The user points out that the lore for the aliens is more developed than that for Super Earth, which hasn’t evolved much from the original game. They worry that, like “Deep Rock Galactic,” players may eventually lose interest once they’ve maximized their achievements or when new games are released. The user suggests that unlike competitive PVP games like “Counterstrike” or “Apex,” which retain players through competition, “Helldivers 2” needs to offer more engaging gameplay or narrative elements to maintain its player base.

[Ryzilynt]

Originally posted by The22nd:

AI TL:DR

The user expresses concerns about the longevity and depth of “Helldivers 2,” a PVE live service game. They note that while the gameplay is enjoyable, it lacks compelling content beyond the mechanics, feeling like an “endless war simulator.” The user points out that the lore for the aliens is more developed than that for Super Earth, which hasn’t evolved much from the original game. They worry that, like “Deep Rock Galactic,” players may eventually lose interest once they’ve maximized their achievements or when new games are released. The user suggests that unlike competitive PVP games like “Counterstrike” or “Apex,” which retain players through competition, “Helldivers 2” needs to offer more engaging gameplay or narrative elements to maintain its player base.

I agree with the AI assessment of the user original text, under the condition and impression it appears to be factual.

I counter with the premise that this game must be enjoyed with friends to acheive fullest potential.

It's not that the game requires the game be played with friends to be enjoyed. Only that for the sake of longevity, cooperative efforts of friends might extend an already determinedly finite existence.

TLDR: It's a fun game for sure. you should play it with or without friends until it no longer brings you joy, and not a moment longer.

[RobeRonin]

yer i mean you are correct

[Key]

Originally posted by The22nd:

AI TL:DR

The user expresses concerns about the longevity and depth of “Helldivers 2,” a PVE live service game. They note that while the gameplay is enjoyable, it lacks compelling content beyond the mechanics, feeling like an “endless war simulator.” The user points out that the lore for the aliens is more developed than that for Super Earth, which hasn’t evolved much from the original game. They worry that, like “Deep Rock Galactic,” players may eventually lose interest once they’ve maximized their achievements or when new games are released. The user suggests that unlike competitive PVP games like “Counterstrike” or “Apex,” which retain players through competition, “Helldivers 2” needs to offer more engaging gameplay or narrative elements to maintain its player base.

Thanks.

[Arise Chicken]

stopped reading at live service game comparison. This is the only game doing pve live service correctly, ill stick with what theyre doing. Deep rock galactic is killing it and continues to get more players daily. Braindead take, next!

Apex doesnt retain players lol, CS does for sure but no apex is a seperate beast. Theres constantly a new flux of either returning players or new players which tell you that more people quit apex and come back later rather than stick around and play season after season im obviously not talking about streamers or pros.

[Marwan [KTHD]]

Regarding clans, I read somewhere (take with a grain of salt though) that a clan system is being planned. I would love to create our own KTHD clan for me and my friend Mohammad in the game, and it would be nice if there are stuff tied to the clan system as well like customization stuff, bonuses etc.

and regarding ships, I would love to walk around the hangar and customize the inside of my ship. There are also more modules planned for the eagle and the others (as seen in the galactic war trailer)

there is also a Liberty-class cruiser that gets mentioned from time to time in the announcements from the TV in the hangar. it would be nice if we can get one as our own. maybe it will get added down the line in the next months and years? Im hopeful the game stays alive for a very long time. Its genuinely one of the few games that actually got me hooked (and for a long time too)

[Zeek Xekri]

Originally posted by Arise Chicken:

stopped reading at live service game comparison. This is the only game doing pve live service correctly, ill stick with what theyre doing. Deep rock galactic is killing it and continues to get more players daily. Braindead take, next!

Apex doesnt retain players lol, CS does for sure but no apex is a seperate beast. Theres constantly a new flux of either returning players or new players which tell you that more people quit apex and come back later rather than stick around and play season after season im obviously not talking about streamers or pros.

So i can agree with you that the live service is great for helldivers 2, but i cant agree with you when looking at the numbers for Deep rock galactic, going off of steam charts they barely hit 12 to 30k peak on a monthly basis and 10ish k on a 24 hour basis which is actually bad for a live service game, yes its not a dead game by any means but the numbers are quite clear, as for Apex their monthly was 400k+ peak and they hold a steady 100k on steam with a 340k 24 hour peak, mind you that's just steam charts so we can assume via console that those numbers are a bit bigger, I'm not brain dead by any means considering the numbers have a huge player gap between them, and yes players quit games and return to them normally when a big update or new season comes out but thats normal uphill then downhill on players for almost any game, Apex can retain players better then deep rock can.

[fungus]

tbh it's kind of a fruitless effort? With exceedingly few exceptions, most games, even live service ones can not retain launch or large event numbers of players for longer than a month or two, but a committed fanbase remains in between content drops and even far after support ends. It feels silly to try to retain the insane heights of player numbers of this game, and you should realize that metric is certainly not an average. A height to be celebrated for sure, but that should never be expected of an average.

For instance/example, Darktide, another coop shooter, is in one of the roughest content droughts of it's life so far, and I can still find a match pretty easily with decent ping. Long after content stopped coming out for Helldivers 1 and before the announcement of the second game, there were only ever a few hundred players on at once, but those same few hundred players kept playing the game, years after support ended.

Helldivers 2 has metric tons of depth and fun to it's gameplay, and presented itself as one of the most solid coop shooters not only recently, but of all time. It's a fantastic game, a lot of people know and feel this same sentiment, and if your concern about the player counts is related to the longevity of the game then rest assured it should be the least of your considerations when it comes to how long this game will last.

EDIT: Basically what I'm trying to say is, player counts really don't matter in the end. Yeah we can all point and laugh at say, Payday 3 for having a pitifully low player count despite it being the latest entry in a multi million dollar franchise that probably single-handedly funded the mortgage or a lot of higher-ups at OVK, but ultimately, as long as the game has people playing it, and you can find a match, it doesn't matter how many people there actually are playing it, at least to you, the player. I know this because I played tons of Helldivers 1 back before HD2 was even announced, and despite the tiny player count, I could still play multiplayer whenever I felt like it, and on top of that still found newer people coming to the game after so long in what appeared to be a kinda niche one off couch coop experience.