Helldivers 2 continues to make headlines, but not just for its gameplay... Released on February 16, 2024 and quickly becoming a must-have on Steam and PS5, this cooperative strategic action game is seductive in its intensity and depth. But beyond its success, an entirely different battle is being waged within the ranks of its community. A palpable tension is emerging between high-level veterans and newcomers, revealing a less-than-stellar facet of the multiplayer experience.
And so, for several days now, a more relational issue has been gaining momentum within the community. Certain high-ranking players are adopting an exclusionary and arrogant attitude, imposing their vision of the "right" equipment and strategies almost dogmatically, to the point of excluding those who don't follow these guidelines. This elite, seeking high performance and standards for higher-level missions, creates a divide and a pressure that is detrimental to the overall experience, especially for less experienced players or those simply seeking entertainment.
At least, that's what redditor Gilmore75 observed, not failing to post said players thinking they're God the Father. "We need to set a standard for 8+ missions [...] If they use anything other than the right crusher. Expel them. If they have useless stratagems that are weak. Expel them. If they have no Rail Gun or Grenade Launcher. Expel them [...] We need to set a standard for high-ranking play," reads the player's Reddit page, which echoes a post by a "veteran".
Why are people like this?
byu/Gilmore75 inHelldivers
The situation has sparked debate within the community, with some players openly expressing their frustration at this rigidity. This state of affairs calls into question the very nature of video games, a space that should privilege fun and mutual aid rather than exacerbated competition and exclusion. Despite these tensions, Helldivers 2 remains a rewarding gaming experience, proving through its popularity and community involvement that, quarrels aside, the heart of its success lies in its captivating gameplay and cooperative possibilities.
