In the never-ending fight for spreading managed democracy, Helldivers 2 players are always eager for new ways to stick it to the Automaton menace. So when the most recent patch introduced a new mission type called “Neutralize Orbital Defenses,” some players were quick to praise Arrowhead.
The mission, which tasks Helldivers with destroying the very weapons that the Automatons use to blow up Super Earth’s ships in orbit, seemed like a direct response to the numerous posts pointing out this dastardly behavior.
A Case of Wishful Thinking in Helldivers 2?
One enthusiastic Helldiver took to the r/Helldivers subreddit to express their gratitude:
They actually listen to our suggstion for missions
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However, the community was quick to point out that this new mission type in Helldivers 2 may not be the result of Arrowhead’s attentiveness to player feedback, but rather a long-planned addition to the game.
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The Automaton Orbital Cannons have, in fact, been lurking in the game’s files since launch, just waiting for their moment to shine in “future” Helldivers 2 missions.
So, it seems that rather than simply responding to player suggestions, Arrowhead had always planned to introduce this mission type, most likely long before the game’s release:
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The notion that the studio would create an entire mission type based on a few Reddit posts seems a bit far-fetched to many in the community:
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It’s clear that while players appreciate the addition of new content, some are growing weary of Arrowhead’s apparent drip-feeding technique, keeping certain elements in reserve to maintain player interest over time.
A Mixed Bag of Reactions
While the new mission type is a welcome addition to the game, some players feel that Arrowhead’s priorities may be misplaced. Rather than introducing new content, they argue, the developer should focus on fixing existing issues:
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The “ragdolling nonsense” refers to a long-standing issue that has been a thorn in the side of many Helldivers, and one that some feel should take precedence over new mission types.
Despite the mixed reactions, the introduction of “Neutralize Orbital Defenses” is a testament to the ongoing evolution of the squad-based shooter.
With the highly anticipated Escalation of Freedom update just around the corner, bringing with it a host of new enemies, mission objectives, a new “Super-Helldive” difficulty level, and much more, it’s clear that Arrowhead has big plans for the future of the game.
As for whether or not the developer truly “cares” about player feedback? That’s a question that will likely continue to spark debate within the Helldivers community. But one thing is for sure: as long as there are bugs to squash and bots to bash, Super Earth’s finest will be there, ready to dive into the action.
What do you think about the new “Neutralize Orbital Defenses” mission type in Helldivers 2? Do you believe Arrowhead is listening to player feedback, or are they simply following their own predetermined drip-feeding roadmap? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
