Helldivers 2 Patch Makes Big Balance and Gameplay Changes, New Warbond Has a Space Cowboy Theme

Helldivers 2's latest patch, 01.002.200, delivers significant balance adjustments and bug fixes to enhance the co-op shooter experience. Numerous weapons and stratagems have received tuning, impacting gameplay dynamics. A key improvement involves boosted AI processing power, leading to more responsive enemy behavior, especially in densely populated combat scenarios. While this enhances enemy reactions, it may slightly impact overall game performance. Automatons, in particular, now pose a more formidable challenge due to their enhanced reaction speeds in groups.

The stratagem loadout menu has been reorganized for improved categorization, enhancing usability.

Helldivers 2 Borderline Justice Warbond Screenshots

6 Images

Sony Interactive Entertainment has unveiled the next Helldivers 2 Warbond, "Borderline Justice," themed around space cowboys. This introduces new weaponry, including the R-6 Deadeye lever-action rifle, the LAS-58 Talon revolver, and the TED-63 Dynamite. The GS-17 Frontier Marshal medium Helldiver suit and the GS-66 Lawmaker heavy armor, both fitting the theme, are also included. The Gunslinger armor passive enhances secondary weapon reload and draw speeds while reducing recoil. The warbond launches March 20th.

The ongoing Galactic War focuses on the Illuminate, who are steadily pushing a black hole towards Super Earth. Speculation suggests the conflict might escalate to the Illuminate's homeworld or a direct confrontation on Super Earth.

Helldivers 2 update 01.002.200 patch notes:

Balancing

Primary Weapons:

• SMG-32 Reprimand: Spread reduced (50 to 40).
• SG-8S Slugger: Spread reduced (20 to 6), damage increased (250 to 280).
• AR-23C Liberator Concussive: Fire rate increased (320 to 400).
• R-63 Diligence: Magazine capacity increased (20 to 25).
• MP-98 Knight: Damage increased (65 to 70).
• STA-11 SMG: Damage increased (65 to 70).
• SMG-37 Defender: Damage increased (75 to 80).
• SMG-72 Pummeler: Damage increased (65 to 70), stun effectiveness improved (1.0 to 1.25 per bullet).
• AR-23 Liberator: Damage increased (70 to 80).
• STA-52 Assault Rifle: Damage increased (70 to 80).
• BR-14 Adjudicator: Damage increased (90 to 95).
• AR-61 Tenderizer: Damage increased (95 to 105).
• R-36 Eruptor: Projectile armor penetration increased (Medium to Heavy), projectile lifetime increased (0.7 to 1 sec).

Stratagems:

• Eagle 110MM Rocket Pods: Uses increased (2 to 3).
• EXO-45 Patriot Exosuit: Uses increased (2 to 3).
• EXO-49 Emancipator Exosuit: Uses increased (2 to 3).
• TX-41 Sterilizer: Ergonomics increased (5 to 20).
• M-105 Stalwart: Damage increased (70 to 80).
• MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun: Improved armor penetration at wider angles.

Enemies:

• Automatons: Increased reaction speed, especially in groups.
• AI Calculations: Increased, improving enemy response in large groups (with a slight performance trade-off).
• Automaton Dropships: Main body health increased (2500 to 3500).
• Illuminate Dropships: Now utilize the same shields as landed ships.
• Barrager Tank Turret: Armor value corrected (0 to 5), weak points added (750 HP each, armor value 3).

Gameplay

Settings:

• Added separate gyro inversion settings.
• Stratagem loadout menu categorization updated.

Fixes

Resolved Top Priority Issues:

• Fixed unreachable extraction beacons.
• General colony environment optimizations.

Crash Fixes, Hangs, and Soft-locks:

• Fixed various crashes related to network conditions, game shutdown, and particle effects.
• Fixed objective completion blockage due to unavailable stratagems.

Weapons and Stratagems:

• Fixed G-123 Thermite Grenade arming issue.
• Fixed crashes related to LAS-17 Double-Edge Sickle and CB-9 Exploding Crossbow.

Social & Multiplayer Fixes:

• Fixed various issues related to lobby visibility, player joining, and quickplay in low-activity regions.
• Fixed disconnection issues in Gloom missions.
• Fixed emote and friend list display issues.
• Fixed issues with muting and kicking players.
• Fixed Steam profile name display issue.

Miscellaneous Fixes:

• Fixed memory leaks.
• Fixed reappearing text chat messages.
• Fixed Democracy Space Station progress bar appearance.
• Fixed language selection issue.
• Fixed raise weapon emote projectile direction.
• Fixed Helldivers sliding after ragdoll state.

Known Issues

Top Priority:

• Black box mission terminal clipping.
• Stratagem ball unpredictable bouncing.
• DSSPathfinding issues.
• Dolby Atmos not working on PS5.

Medium Priority:

• Player getting stuck on Pelican-1 ramp.
• Cape display issue in Armory tab.
• "This is Democracy" emote unintended spacewalk issue.
• AX/TX-13 ammo display issue.
• LAS-5 Scythe scope zoom issue.
• Charge-up weapon firing rate issue.