Helldivers 2 is on the eve of its second anniversary, and as the four-player squad-based shooter continues to evolve, Arrowhead Game Studios’ Chief Creative Officer, Johan Pilestedt, has revealed that “megamaps” could be in the game’s future. During a Q&A on the official Helldivers 2 Discord, Pilestedt offered some insight into the direction that developers are hoping to go, and larger maps are potentially on the table. Beyond that, Pilestedt also mentioned that squads may get an increase in size, too, and with bigger squads and expanded maps, Helldivers 2 could be gearing up to get its biggest shake-up yet.
Of course, as exciting as Pilestedt’s words are, these two changes are purely hypothetical at the moment. Talk of “megamaps” and larger squad sizes all came up when Pilestedt was asked about a Helldivers 2 sequel. Instead of making a third game, the CCO mentioned that Arrowhead is more interested in improving Helldivers 2 over time instead of pivoting energy to a completely new game. Helldivers 2 has amassed an impressive following, and it simply makes more sense to continue to fine tune an already successful game than try to build a new one. The possibility of larger maps and squads is an update that has me excited for future Helldivers 2 content all over again, but if these changes ever come to pass, Arrowhead will need to address the elephant in the room: vehicles.
Arrowhead’s Approach to Vehicles Will Make or Break Helldivers 2’s Potential Megamaps
While the game’s map sizes vary, some are already quite sizable, so the idea of a megamap is an exciting thought. Having a lot more ground to cover would be easier with a larger squad in tow, but it could also be the perfect recipe for even more chaos. Double the squad means double the chances of getting caught in friendly fire, and if stronger vehicles are added to the mix, it could make the battlefield that much more hectic. Vehicles have been added to Helldivers 2 since its launch, but as of now, they definitely aren’t an essential piece to the overall gameplay. At most, Helldivers 2 vehicles are a novelty, and both I and many other players have been hoping for the day that vehicles become a more important part of the experience. Granted, not every player is keen on vehicle gameplay, but Helldivers 2 at least needs to present opportunities for vehicle lovers during matches that fully embrace that particular play style.
Megamaps could open the door for even stronger matches, but if Arrowhead continues to take the same approach to vehicles that it does now, it may prove to be a big misstep. There is so much potential for more dynamic vehicle gameplay in this game, and Pilestedt’s words are hopefully hinting that they’re destined to become more integral to the experience. Recently, Arrowhead Design Director Niklas Malmborg confirmed that developers are hoping to make changes to the game’s vehicles, which is a promising sign. However, it’s unclear when, or if, these Helldivers 2 updates will arrive, and whether they’re being considered with megamaps in mind.
How Can Arrowhead Make Helldivers 2’s Vehicles Better?
- Customization
- Improvement to physics
- Replenish vehicle and mech ammo
- Shorter cooldown times between uses
- Brand-new vehicles
- Adding vehicles from the first Helldivers
As it currently stands, vehicles in Helldivers 2 are mainly one-use tools for support instead of a central mechanic. The addition of Exosuits and the M-102 FRV were great improvements to the game at the time, but as Helldivers 2 continues to evolve, the vehicle options are beginning to feel far more limited in scope.
Larger maps would ultimately give Arrowhead no choice but to make vehicles a core part of the gameplay loop, at least on those specific maps. Pilestedt’s proposed megamaps means that getting to certain areas on foot would be incredibly difficult, so better functioning vehicles that take players from Point A to Point B would become crucial. It’s quite possible that Arrowhead is working on such concepts, though, as recent Helldivers 2 leaks have pointed toward more vehicles could arrive with the long-awaited addition of Cyberstan.
Helldivers 2 leaks from dataminers have revealed evidence of an APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) and a tank that’s incredibly reminiscent of the original game’s Bastion tank. While Arrowhead has yet to officially confirm that these vehicles are on the way, the data has led many players to believe that they’re being planned for the next big update.
Megamaps and Larger Squads Could Be One of the Biggest Gamechangers Helldivers 2 Has Ever Seen
Since the game launched in early 2024, Helldivers 2 has managed to keep many of its players on their toes. From shadow dropping the Illuminate to bringing the fight for Managed Democracy to Super Earth, Arrowhead has used the live-service model in a way that actually benefits players and the overall experience instead of using it as a means to simply make more money. To keep players invested, Arrowhead has to continue to go bigger in different ways, and megamaps and larger squads would be taking the phrase “go big or go home” quite literally.
Bigger doesn’t always mean better, though, and with the history of Helldivers 2‘s performance issues, it raises questions about whether the game can even support such ambitions. Something like megamaps has the potential to be a monumental change for the third-person shooter, but whether that intense of a change has a good or bad outcome may solely rely on solid vehicle options and gameplay.
Helldivers 2‘s future plans remain hidden in the shadows at the moment, and if Arrowhead has taught players anything over the past two years, it’s going to stay that way until the developer is ready to surprise. Ultimately, Arrowhead and fans want the same thing: a great game. Helldivers 2‘s evolving nature means that each update is going to come with its own highs and lows, and while the performance issues have been greatly improved for the most part, there is still room to become even better. Only time will tell what Arrowhead has in store with its megamap vision, but if this idea comes to fruition, it hopefully also means better vehicles will follow close behind.
- Released
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February 8, 2024
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
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Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
