Helldivers 2: Embracing Democracy in Gameplay

Helldivers 2 might dive into the world of dictators, but that doesn’t have to mean you play like one. Design director Niklas Malmborg is urging players to shake things up for the good of Democracy. In a recent chat during a Democratic Conversation on the Helldivers 2 YouTube channel, he elaborates on the idea of community separation—where, he notes, some players decide they can only operate at a specific power level. “We start getting a separation of community where some players say like, ‘No, we’re playing on this power level. The rest of the weapons and gear are on this power level,'” Malmborg explains. This division can lead to friction among the player base, sparking conflicts. “The more separations you get, you kind of get a divide in the player base. They start fighting with each other,” he adds.

Malmborg recalls the early days of the game, where players would judge others harshly for their loadout choices. “Like, we had in the beginning of the game with like, ‘Oh, you didn’t bring a Railgun to the lobby?’ And then you got kicked, because they’re like, ‘Oh no, you’re just making bad choices,’” he says, highlighting how a single favored weapon can dictate gameplay experiences.

Arrowhead has even established a dedicated “Meta” team to address these issues, but they aren’t just dictating which gun reigns supreme. Instead, their role is to shape the overall rules of engagement within the game: “They define the rules of the whole game, and you’ll find your beloved Game Masters in this,” Malmborg notes, emphasizing a collaborative approach.

On the topic of weapon balancing, he admits there’s a fine line to walk. Recently, the team decided to nerf the beloved Coyote weapon, but Malmborg assures fans, “we tried to keep it as intact as we possibly could,” while avoiding any “obviously” superior choices from dominating the gameplay landscape.

In Malmborg’s view, sticking too rigidly to a single weapon can stall player creativity. “Committing to one weapon like this ensures that each Helldivers 2 session starts becoming the same, all of the time,” he warns. “For you, there’s not a big toolbox. There’s just a small toolbox, which you will get tired of.” This leads some players to call for buffs for their preferred tools, seeking a power fantasy that overshadows others. “At some point we have to say, ‘Game is good here. Shake hands,’” he continues, expressing the importance of balance to maintain a healthy community.

As Malmborg points out, toxicity can creep in when players grow dissatisfied. “You might all only notice it when the community turns toxic,” he observes. “And then you say, ‘Ah it used to be a good community here, but now it’s just toxic.’”

Despite all the adjustments, Helldivers 2 High Command still pokes fun at player failings, especially on magma planets. But take heart, players—there’s a Killzone collaboration making a comeback to keep things spicy!