The Argument for and Against Helldivers 2 Increasing Squad Sizes

As players of Helldivers 2 continue their fight for democracy, some have requested the game’s developers to increase the maximum squad count from four to five or even higher. Others see this idea as a potential blessing for facing all the Terminid and Automaton threats and objectives. However, there are also compelling reasons why it can be a detrimental addition.

Helldivers 2 has established itself as an immensely popular third-person cooperative shooter. With an estimated 8 million units sold, it is clear that the game has players devoted to achieving anything and everything it has to offer. Recent updates and fan communication show that Arrowhead Game Studios has no plans to stop the game’s growth, but it is clear that the game’s creator will not be able to cater to every player’s request. One regarding squad size has caught the developer’s attention enough to get a response.

The Probability of Getting a Helldivers Squad Size Update

Arrowhead Game Studios community manager, Thomas ‘Twinbeard’ Petersson, states that increasing Helldivers 2’s squad size is highly unlikely. He mentions that such an addition would require a lot of work and that should the idea ever be considered, it will be in the distant future. While this does not rule out the possibility, numerous things must be considered before a major update of having a fifth or even sixth player in a squadron. An increase in squad size requires a fair number of modifications that may disrupt the game’s currently steady gameplay balance, an issue that Helldivers 2 would likely rather avoid.

The Benefits of Having Additional Helldivers in a Squad

Should the game have one or more extra player slots, tackling missions and objectives will no doubt be much easier. With the community’s creativity, giving them additional Helldivers to work with can lead to shocking and entertaining results. There is the possibility that they will be able to kill behemoths such as Bile Titans or Factory Striders with never-before-seen tricks, or they might take down a difficult 40-minute mission in less than 10 with cheesier strategies built around the support of an extra ally.

An additional Helldiver can lead to an endless amount of potential for both players and developers. More people per mission could lead to an update that includes more mission types that cater to a large squad. It can also produce a myriad of chaotic and hilarious moments, such as dropping an Eagle 500KG Bomb at the worst possible moment but with much more disastrous results.

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Helldivers 2 Player Confirms Eagle-1 Hitboxes With Hilarious Midair Collision

A Helldivers 2 player unintentionally confirms the in-game model for Eagle-1 features hitboxes after an unfortunate but hilarious midair collision.

Although there are advantages to having extra players, there are also repercussions. Arrowhead Game Studios might have to provide patches to fix Helldivers 2 server issues and gameplay bugs that would come along with extra squad slots. A huge update revolving around the inclusion of additional players can lead to new bugs or reintroduce old game-breaking issues such as:

• Problems with joining another player’s ship
• In-game chat not functioning correctly
• Squads randomly disconnecting and disappearing
• Game crashes during launch or while playing
• Players being stuck in infinite loading screens
• Major and Personal orders not updating correctly
• Weapons and stratagems not loading properly

Other than developer-related problems, complications can arise from the players themselves. Playing the game means encountering different individuals with their unique personalities. More people in a squadron increases the chances of running into problematic allies. Fellow Helldivers trolling and being toxic is nothing the community hasn’t encountered before. However, the higher likelihood of running into an uncooperative player may deter those interested in trying out the game.

As Helldivers 2 continues its steady pace of growth, more areas of opportunity can be tackled other than the game’s squad size. The developers must focus on providing updates that improve the player experience and can easily be controlled and fixed, should any issues arise. A perfect example would be the inclusion of meteor showers in Helldivers 2, a chaotic environmental condition that required a fix to its unreasonable spawn rates upon release. Should Helldivers ever receive a major update involving additional squad members, it will most likely be in the far future when the developers have the knowledge and time to easily implement it.

Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 is a third-person cooperative shooter developed by Arrowhead Games Studios for the PC and PlayStation 5 where players take control of a Helldiver set to protect the citizens of Super Earth by traveling to hostile alien worlds and destroying threats. Players undergo missions, defeat enemies, and use special items called Stratagems to help turn the tide of battle in this punishing release.

Franchise

Helldivers

Released

February 8, 2024

Developer(s)

Arrowhead Game Studios

Genre(s)

Shooter

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence

Metascore

83

Platforms That Support Crossplay

PC & PS5

Number of Players

1-4

PS Plus Availability

N/A