One of the biggest strengths ofHelldivers 2’s live-service model has been its Major Order mechanic, whereby every week or so the entire player-base is given one big goal to work towards. These Major Orders have ranged from killing a certain number of enemies within the span of a few days, to liberating entire sectors from Automaton control over the course of a week. It’s not the first time widespread challenges have been used in a live-service game to retain a player-base, but it perfectly fitsHelldivers 2’s overarching galactic war narrative.
But recently,Helldivers 2’s Major Ordershave taken an interesting turn. May has been a rough month for Super Earth’s finest, with players failing to complete its first two Major Orders, succeeding one, and then failing yet another. While players have just succeeded in the most recent Major Order and earned themselves a shiny new mech, this recent pattern of failures could just be a taste of things to come. Still, that might not necessarily be a bad thing.
Helldivers 2’s Major Orders Might Be Undergoing a Big Change
Helldivers 2’s Major Orders Might Get Harder
At the time of writing, there have been 27 Major Orders issued sinceHelldivers 2’s launchback in February. Of those 27, 18 Major Orders have been successful, and just 9 have failed. In April alone,Helldivers 2players managed to succeed in a total of nine Major Orders, and lost only two. It’s often been the case that players will successfully complete at least two or three Major Orders in a row, and when that happens, it doesn’t often feel all that rewarding.
For a while, theHelldivers 2player-basewas absolutely breezing through Major Orders without a second thought, often much quicker than the developers intended. But while players have always been rewarded for their cooperation and efficiency, completing Major Orders so easily actually flies in the face of the narrativeHelldivers 2seems to be trying to tell.
Helldivers 2’s Major Orders Should Fuel Immersion
At this point inHelldivers 2’s ongoing narrative, Super Earth is currently surrounded by two major enemy factions, and there are rumors that a third faction could be entering the galaxy sometime soon, but it doesn’t feel like a threat is looming, or that Super Earth is actually in danger. In fact, with so many Major Orders completed, it feels like Super Earth is reigning supreme over the entire galaxy. So, it might be time fordeveloper Arrowheadto start upping the ante, and these recent failed Major Orders could be the first signs of that.
It’s been theorized that the recent streak of failed Major Orders is actually due toHelldivers 2’s fading player-base, but that’s why it’s more important than ever to make them suitably challenging and rewarding.
It’s going to be tricky to balance properly, but Arrowhead needs to keep making its Major Orders genuinely challenging. Players need to feel as though they’re constantly scraping by in this lethal galaxy, and that they desperately need to keep fighting to make any progress. Only then willHelldivers 2’s Major Orders feel truly rewarding and captivating. Of course, it’s important that Arrowhead continues toadd new Stratagemsto the game at regular intervals, but that’s exactly where brief respites like the latest Major Order can come into play.
Helldivers 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Do you believe in freedom? Can you stand in the face of oppression – and defend the defenceless? Wage war for peace. Die for democracy.Join forces with up to three friends and wreak havoc on an alien scourge threatening the safety of your home planet, Super Earth, in this multiplayer co-op shooter for PS5 and PC from Arrowhead Game Studios.Step into the boots of the Helldivers, an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty and Managed Democracy using the biggest, baddest and most explosive tools in the galaxy.Helldivers don’t go planet side without proper backup, but it’s up to you to decide how and when to call it in. Not only do you have a host of superpowered primary weapons and customizable loadouts, you also have the ability to call on stratagems during play.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.1Enlist in Super Earth’s premier military peacekeeping force today. We are heroes… we are legends… WE ARE HELLDIVERS.
