Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom Update Brings Quality of Life Features and More

Arrowhead Game Studios has just announced the upcoming update for Helldivers 2 – Escalation of Freedom, their biggest update to date. It will be available starting August 6, 2024 on PS5 and PC via Steam.

For those of the uninitiated, Helldivers 2 is a direct sequel to Helldivers, a top-down shooter that was released in March 2015 for the PS3, PS4 and PS Vita. The PC version was later released in that same year in December. This makes it the first ever Sony game to make it to PC.

The Escalation of Freedom update features new enemies, a new difficulty, new mission objectives and many more. Without further ado, let’s jump right into it.

New Enemies

The Impaler Returns

This formidable foe from the original Helldivers introduces fresh difficulties. With the Impaler in the mix, escaping the bugs is no longer an option—its sheer size, presence, and destructive power make it a threat that must be confronted directly.

Enter the Spore Charger

Just when you thought the normal Charger was hard enough, the Spore Charger ups the ante with its body being shrouded in fog up until its right at your face.

Alpha Commanders and Tanks that Shoot Rockets

Last to join the Terminids is the Alpha Commander. Its essentially a harder and deadlier version of the Brood Commander. It will not hesitate to call in reinforcements so try not to get swarmed.

The Automatons will be bringing in the Rocket Tank in this update. As the name suggests, it will shoot rockets and even perform an artillery strike if you’re far enough from it. When it points upwards, its time to start running.

Introducing CR-10: Super Helldive

The Super Helldive will be bringing in the most challenging and most relentless dive difficulty level yet. But with the added challenge, there’s even greater rewards waiting.

Additionally, there will be new mission variations with bigger outposts and objectives. Accomplishing these will grant you Super Samples. Be warned, these outposts will be heavily fortified, and require players to coordinate and strategize in order to take them out.

Swamp Changes

Venture into the swamps in a new and eerie way, where rolling fog and wild vegetation create an unsettling atmosphere. The darkened trees block out much of the light, and the air seems almost haunted. Keep your flashlight ready, as visibility is poor and light is crucial. Enemies might be lurking anywhere among the dense underbrush.

Lastly in the Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom update, the developers have introduced a system where if a player is kicked, they will respawn in a new session as the host, retaining all the loot from their previous session. This allows them to collect all items before extraction. The squad responsible for the kick will see a notification in the chat that a player has been kicked, but their loot will remain unaffected.

These changes ensure that all players can leave with the loot they’ve gathered during the mission, preventing any loss for individual Helldivers.

In other news, Marvel Rivals has just started their closed beta playtest and will be available until August 5.

HELLDIVERS 2

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Developer: Arrowhead Game Studios

Release Date: 2024-02-08

PlayStation 5, Steam

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.

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