Helldivers 2 has a balance patch coming, but 'it mostly consists of simple stat changes', says senior game designer

An image of a citizen of Super Earth giving a PSA, holding his hands out in a calming manner while the word: INVASION is stamped in block-type over a screaming man crying for sweet liberty.

(Image credit: Arrowhead Games)

Helldivers 2 has a whole host of weapons and stratagems to offer, but if you ask any red-blooded Super Earth patriot what their favourite loadout is, then the same few names are bound to come up. The SG-225 Breaker, the Orbital Laser, the Railgun—with some honorary scattered mentions for stratagems like Autocannon.

At least from personal experience, I can say with certainty that the Railgun is kind of busted—in a fun way, mind. There's something satisfying about capping a charger off at the ankles, or doming a bile titan from a safe distance. It does, however, paint you into a corner if you want to win.

Luckily, Arrowhead's going to be making some tweaks. As spotted by Gamesradar, community manager Baskinator responded to a fan asking about a potential balance patch with a simple: "We are working on that for an update, yes."

A discord post from the Helldivers 2 discord that reads: "We are working on that for an update yes" — (Image credit: Helldivers 2 Discord)

As for the details, senior game designer Alex Kravchenko has been kind enough to chat to players about gun tweaks on the game's Discord in "The Armory" channel, a hub dedicated to nattering about equipment—and generally speaking, Arrowhead's against guns with runaway power.

"Keeping overperforming weapons in the game without addressing them does take away from everyone else because players have to constantly choose between fun and optimal," Kravchenko writes. It's a balancing act, though—in a separate message, they write that if Arrowhead nerfs a weapon, "even if the numbers show that it's now more balanced … people will still be unhappy with the changes (rightfully so). Because they found the most versatile tool, they loved it, mastered it, and it's being taken away from them."

Still, Kravchenko reassures players that "the changes are definitely coming, we just didn't want to rush it … the power level of some weapons is VERY different to what's generally assumed."

A discord message that reads: &quot;Oh the changes are definitely coming, we just didn't want to rush it. I'm still deep into analytics, the actual power level of some weapons is VERY different from what is generally assumed.&quot; — (Image credit: Helldivers 2 Discord)

That tracks with comments from Arrowhead Games' CEO Johan Pilestedt on Twitter, who side-eyed the community's beloved Breaker shotgun as actually not being super great. "You would be surprised to learn that while the breaker scores more kills. It is not overrepresented in missions that end in success."

A post that reads: "We are looking at data and doing a balance patch - you would be surprised to learn that while the breaker scores more kills. It is not overrepresented in missions that end in success.... " — (Image credit: @Pilestedt on Twitter/X.)

As for what the patch contains, Kravchenko also chimed in earlier this week back on Discord. "The first balance patch consists mostly of simple stat changes so as to not destabilise the codebase." Numbers will be shuffled, but it makes sense that Arrowhead wouldn't be hasty in turning the dials, especially since it just got a handle on the server situation.

Harvey's history with games started when he first begged his parents for a World of Warcraft subscription aged 12, though he's since been cursed with Final Fantasy 14-brain and a huge crush on G'raha Tia. He made his start as a freelancer, writing for websites like Techradar, The Escapist, Dicebreaker, The Gamer, Into the Spine—and of course, PC Gamer. He'll sink his teeth into anything that looks interesting, though he has a soft spot for RPGs, soulslikes, roguelikes, deckbuilders, MMOs, and weird indie titles. He also plays a shelf load of TTRPGs in his offline time. Don't ask him what his favourite system is, he has too many.