Helldivers 2 Gets A Much-Welcome Update To Reloading, Vehicles, And Campaign Progression
Helldivers 2 should feel more responsive to play than ever before, as the game's latest update brings major improvements to reloading. Patch 6.3.0, which is live now, brings a variety of balance changes, features, and bug fixes that enhance the overall gameplay experience. Among these changes are significant tweaks to how reloading works, making the game more fluid and strategic for players.
At long last, players can reload while diving, and starting a reload animation, only to be ragdolled or staggered, will now continue the animation once you regain control. This update also introduces "delayed reloads," where, if you try to reload but are unable to do so, the reload animation will be delayed for a short window until it can be started. These changes should make spreading Managed Democracy easier and more efficient.
New Features and Campaign Progression
Patch 6.3.0 also introduced the Control Center, replacing the previously inactive terminal across from the armory on the deck of each player's Super Destroyer. The Control Center provides players with more information about ongoing campaigns, major orders, and rewards. It also allows players to review previous campaigns, making it easier for new or returning players to get up to speed with the story and objectives.
Each campaign now has a unique reward that players can earn if the Helldivers community emerges victorious in the majority of the campaign's major orders. The first campaign under this new system is called Census Thunder, which tasks Helldivers with taking control of two planets from hordes of Illuminate Voteless. If successful, players will gain access to a new FRV (Fast-Recon Vehicle), essentially Helldiver's version of Halo's Warthog.
Balance Changes and Vehicle Adjustments
In addition to new features, the update includes a long list of balance changes that affect vehicles, throwables, and Orbital Stratagems. One of the main goals with these changes was to make vehicles tankier, following a previous update that technically buffed vehicles like Exo Suits but also made enemies more effective against them.
According to Arrowhead Studios, the Bastion tank "should feel tankier" and be able to "ignore small attacks, withstand more medium attacks, and its survivability against heavy attacks should be unchanged." Exo Suits have also seen improvements, allowing them to withstand small and medium attacks, with an increase in total health that makes them feel sturdier overall. Their cooldown has been reduced from 10 minutes to eight, making them more accessible in gameplay.
The FRV also received a health buff that will help it better withstand medium and heavy attacks. For turret enthusiasts, all of the game's sentries have had their health increased by 100% to compensate for previous changes that allowed enemies to more easily damage vehicles.
Orbital Stratagems and Grenades
Fans of Orbital Stratagems have reason to rejoice, as nearly every Orbital in the game has seen its projectile damage, durable damage, and explosion damage increased. Rocket Pods should be more reliable and deal more damage now, while the Railcannon's huge damage buff should make it deadlier against enemies like Vox Engines. However, it will still be unable to one-shot massive enemies like Factory Striders or Hive Lords.
Many of the game's grenades have also received a buff in the number of starting ammo and max ammo, making them more effective in combat situations.
This latest update is just a small part of Arrowhead's near-future plans for its co-op shooter, as outlined by Helldivers 2 game director Mikael Eriksson in a blog post earlier this month. Future additions include new features like Planet Warfronts, additional Super Destroyer progression and customization, and an increase in the game's level cap to 300 from the current 150.
In May, Arrowhead called an update focused on improving Helldivers 2's technical performance the "opening salvo," with more updates to come. Players can check out the full Helldivers 2 update 6.3.0 patch notes below for more details on all the changes and additions.
