In the wake of a barrage of negative reviews, the creators of Helldivers 2 are currently in the process of damage control. They have rolled out a new patch with the aim of restoring balance to the game, following a major update that significantly altered the game’s dynamics. However, the changes have not been universally welcomed, with one particular weapon becoming a point of contention among the player community.
The weapon at the center of this controversy is the R-36 Eruptor, a rifle that fires explosive rounds. Previously, this weapon was known for its shrapnel effect, which would scatter around and obliterate nearby bots or bugs. The shrapnel mechanic was so potent that players were advised to aim at the ground near enemies rather than directly at them, as the resulting shrapnel would inflict more damage. However, this mechanic also had a downside: players often found themselves within the blast radius and were consequently killed. This led to significant disruption in matches where players were excessively using the Eruptor. In response to this, Arrowhead, the game’s developer, decided to eliminate the shrapnel effect and increase the weapon’s damage. This decision, however, has been met with criticism from some players who believe it has effectively ruined the weapon.
Over the past 24 hours, numerous threads have appeared on the Helldivers subreddit, with players arguing that Arrowhead should reverse the changes made to the R-36 Eruptor. One frustrated player wrote, “Reddit has killed one of the most fun weapons we got in the game,” blaming the vocal complaints of some players for pressuring Arrowhead into making the change. They further argued that the increased damage does not sufficiently compensate for the loss of the shrapnel effect, and that the weapon is no longer as effective as it once was.
In a separate thread, a user shared a conversation between a player and an Arrowhead developer named Twinbeard. In this exchange, Twinbeard admitted that the changes to the R-36 Eruptor were not functioning as planned. “There are two or three things we’ve noticed aren’t working as intended,” Twinbeard wrote, acknowledging that the shrapnel change was one of these issues. This admission has given fans hope that Arrowhead may either reverse the changes or introduce new elements to reimagine the Eruptor, allowing it to retain its power while causing less disruption in the game. This ongoing debate among the Helldivers 2 community highlights the challenges game developers face in balancing player satisfaction with game mechanics and overall balance.