Helldivers 2 Is Finally Buffing Flamethrowers Again

Summary

• The infamous flamethrower nerfs in Helldivers 2 have been reverted.
• Arrowhead is continuing to work towards balancing the game in a manner that prioritises fun.
• Upcoming balance changes go live on September 17.

Arrowhead Game Studios has announced the team will be buffing the flamethrower and flame-based weapons in the upcoming Helldivers 2 patch.

The balance of Helldivers 2 is a delicate act and a subject that's proved touchy among the game's player base. The Escalation of Freedom update in August featured a few balance changes, including the now infamous flamethrower nerf, which irked a section of the community as they felt Arrowhead was prioritising an arbitrary sense of balance over the enjoyment of players.

This update was responsible for a wave of review bombing, something that's become very common within the Helldivers 2 community. Following the backlash, Arrowhead committed to a 60-day plan to improve player experience in Helldivers 2.

One of these upcoming changes pertains to the flamethrower, which is having its previous nerfs reverted. Additionally, flames will now be able to penetrate the armour of heavy enemies like Chargers and Bile Titans. In a short video outlining the buff, developers Johann Pilestedt and Niklas Malmborg said reverting the nerf was "the right thing to do."

The Flamethrower Nerfs Have Been Reverted

In the aforementioned 60-day plan, Arrowhead acknowledged the team has approached game balance inconsistently and is looking to rectify that. "Our intention is that balance should be fun, not 'balanced' for the sake of balance," the post reads.

In a progress report released about a month later, Arrowhead stated it was still looking at balance and would be considering "player fantasies and design goals for weapons and stratagems based on feedback we've received and the trends we're observing during gameplay."

Following this update, a survey was held by PlayStation's research team to gauge players' current feelings about Helldivers 2. Considering the recent failure of one of PlayStation's other live-service titles, Concord, the publisher soliciting some feedback from one of their success stories isn't too surprising.

The balance update that will implement the flamethrower changes will be released on September 17.

Helldivers 2

WHERE TO PLAY

The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence. Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter. Helldivers 2 features Arrowhead's best cooperative gameplay yet. Collaboration will be vital: Teams will synergize on loadouts, strategize their approach for each mission, and complete objectives together.