Helldivers 2: Every Update That’s Going To Arrive

Helldivers fans have been eagerly awaiting news on what’s next for Arrowhead Game Studios’ hit co-op shooter after its successful launch. While the developers have remained tight-lipped about their official roadmap plans, some leaked information and official teases give us a glimpse into the future content coming to Helldivers 2. 

Confirmed Content Updates

Let’s start with what Arrowhead has officially confirmed is in the works:

Flying Enemies: In a tongue-in-cheek response to rare sightings of flying Terminid bugs, Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt seemingly acknowledged their existence, stating “Everyone knows that ‘Bugs can’t fly’.” This is likely a nod to flying enemies being added to shake up the combat encounters.

Regular Warbond Battle Passes: The Helldivers 2 Discord reveals new Warbond battle passes will be released on the second Thursday of every month, ensuring a constant stream of new unlockable cosmetics and rewards for players.

Beyond those two specifics, details are scarce on other officially confirmed updates. Pilestedt admitted a public roadmap existed previously but has been scrapped as plans changed, with a new one potentially being worked on internally. 

Leaked and Datamined Updates

While the developers stay quiet, some credible leaks and datamines point to exciting new features that could be coming:

Drivable Vehicles: A leak from Twitter user @TheRealJTV4K60 shows files referencing multi-crew drivable vehicles akin to Warthogs from Halo, allowing squads to coordinate vehicular assaults and defensive maneuvers.

Support NPCs: Per a Reddit user, unused game files reference the ability to call in AI-controlled support platoons of Helldivers to aid players, similar to the existing sentry deployables.

The Illuminate Faction: Another leak highlights files for the Illuminate, a psychic alien race that appeared in the original Helldivers. Their return as a new enemy faction could significantly mix up the combat scenarios.

Of course, datamined and leaked content is never a guarantee until officially announced. But their existence in the game files suggests these additions were at least considered or partially implemented at some point.

Balance and Gameplay Updates

Beyond new content, Helldivers 2 will be receiving some major gameplay updates focused on balancing and buffing underutilized options according to developer comments.

A recent update on the official Discord confirmed the team is working on a balance patch, though details are still under wraps. Potential changes could include buffs to underperforming weapons, fixes to the currently bugged armor system, and improvements to armor-piercing capabilities of support weapons like the Recoilless Rifle.

The goal seems to be expanding viable builds and loadout choices, especially for higher-difficulty missions currently dominated by a handful of meta-picks like the Breaker Shotgun, Railgun, and Shield Generator Pack Stratagem.

With the game’s rocky launch and server issues largely resolved, Arrowhead can now prioritize major gameplay updates to keep the action fresh and build diversity.

Shaking Up the Helldivers 2 Meta

For many Helldivers 2 players, particularly veterans taking on the hardest difficulties, the current meta has become quite restrictive with only a select few weapons and Stratagems being considered top-tier choices. While off-meta builds remain viable with enough skill, having more balanced options would be a welcome change.

The potential additions teased by leaks and official sources could profoundly impact the established Helldivers 2 meta if they make it to release. Drivable vehicles may shift the focus from infantry combat, new factions like the Illuminate would demand adjusting target prioritization, and buffed underused equipment could enable new powerful synergies.

Moreover, regular Warbond updates will keep injecting novel rewards and objectives into the gameplay loop, encouraging players to re-evaluate loadouts and experiment with new cosmetic bonuses or mechanics.

With both new content and rebalancing on the horizon, the Helldivers 2 experience may soon look drastically different than it does today. Dedicated players should stay tuned for more official announcements from Arrowhead as developers finalize plans to evolve the game’s rich and challenging combat scenarios.