Helldivers 2 Gets First Gameplay Trailer and Detailed Info

Yesterday, Swedish developer Arrowhead Game Studios shared the first gameplay trailer and a lot of gameplay information for Helldivers 2.

Originally announced during May’s PlayStation Showcase event, Helldivers 2 shifts from the top-down perspective of the original game to a third-person view. Other than that, it looks like many of the core features of the previous game were retained.

For example, the stratagem system is still there. Johan Peterson, CEO of Arrowhead and Creative Director of the game, explained:

This is the ace up your sleeve. It allows you to interface with the many elements of the Super Earth arsenal, such as the Super Destroyer, the Eagle Fighter, and the multitude of weapons and equipment that you can call down as you play the game. My favorite Stratagem in Helldivers 2 is the Gatling Sentry. A killing machine. Unleashing its devastating firepower into a swarm of enemies is truly a wondrous sight with this new third-person perspective.

Mike Erikson, Game Director on Helldivers 2, added:

If you’re facing off against a heavily armored foe, you want to bring specialized armor-penetrating weapons, like the AT-48 Recoilless Rifle or the AC-8 Autocannon. But if you’re blowing up a bug hive, make sure to bring Orbital Barrages or other highly explosive stratagems. When you choose your armor, make sure it fits your intended playstyle. If you want to play as a tank, pick a heavy armor with high resistance. I usually play with the light armor because of the increased mobility and decreased enemy detection range.

Johan Peterson also said:

The armor system that we’ve developed in the game is inspired by real firearms fired against armored targets. This means that a shot at a shallow angle will be deflected and not penetrate the intended target.

Of course, this being a game made by Arrowhead Game Studios (the folks behind Magicka), friendly fire is always on, Peterson confirmed:

In Helldivers 2, death is key. You’ll die to most of everything, even including your friend’s own misplaced orbital bombardment. 

Needless to say, cooperation between players will be key in this game. Arrowhead also confirmed optional objectives that might require a small detour but should provide meaningful rewards upon success.

Helldivers 2 is set to be released later this year on PlayStation 5 and PC, presumably with cross-play functionality. You can already wishlist the game on Steam.