Helldivers 2 finally liberated from the bulk of its server issues as Arrowhead CEO celebrates having 'time to focus on improvements' like rad mechs and (probably) stealth gear

Image for Helldivers 2 finally liberated from the bulk of its server issues as Arrowhead CEO celebrates having 'time to focus on improvements' like rad mechs and (probably) stealth gear

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

As you may have noticed, Helldivers 2 got really popular real fast—and has been suffering under the weight of success for a week and change. Reviews lamenting server problems caused it to dip into 'mixed' territory on Steam, and a harsh 15-minute AFK timer had to be implemented to curb server squatters.

But after raising the server cap to 700,000 (and walking back a sleep-deprived tweet or two), Helldivers 2 mostly held the fort with only mild turbulence. Anecdotally, I had zero issues logging in over the weekend—though I am in a UK time zone—and Arrowhead Games' CEO Johan Pilestedt confirms that they didn't hit any major problems on Twitter.

A post that reads: "I'm really happy and proud of the @arrowheadgs team for an amazing Achievement, the servers handled all @helldivers2 players this weekend without problem. Now we have time to focus on improvements to the title and resume our original plan. Many exciting things upcoming!" — (Image credit: @Pilestedt on Twitter/X.)

"I'm really happy and proud of the team for an amazing Achievement, the servers handled all Helldivers 2 players this weekend without problem," he adds that the team now has "time to focus on improvements to the title and resume our original plan. Many exciting things upcoming!"

That's good to hear, because I know for a fact that includes mechs. Aside from being in the first game, mech suits were teased in the Report for Duty trailer. It's a subtle hint that you might've missed on your first viewing, but eagle-eyed viewers would've clocked the giant, stomping mech suit firing a very loud gatling gun while a pilot cackles maniacally behind the wheel, with 'coming soon after launch' message encoded in plain, unaltered english.

Said improvements may also include silenced ammo and attachments to bolster Helldivers 2's surprisingly in-depth stealth systems, as casually hinted at by Pilestedt in a reply to a tweet over the weekend: "I used to rock subsonic ammo and suppressor and do this quite a bit during play tests." Sorry—subsonic what? The CEO resumed complete radio silence afterwards, but last I checked, that wasn't in the game Johan. Johan? What do you mean subsonic ammo? Johan, come back!

Helldivers 2 screaming man from intro — (Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

Regardless, Helldivers 2 continues to be a total blast—and now it's one you can actually have fun playing without slamming head-first into queue times. While there are still a few creases to iron out (daily orders are currently bugged) there's a lot of game to love here. I'll see you on Draupnir—wait, we liberated that already? Mantes it is, then.

Harvey's history with games started when he first begged his parents for a World of Warcraft subscription aged 12, though he's since been cursed with Final Fantasy 14-brain and a huge crush on G'raha Tia. He made his start as a freelancer, writing for websites like Techradar, The Escapist, Dicebreaker, The Gamer, Into the Spine—and of course, PC Gamer. He'll sink his teeth into anything that looks interesting, though he has a soft spot for RPGs, soulslikes, roguelikes, deckbuilders, MMOs, and weird indie titles. He also plays a shelf load of TTRPGs in his offline time. Don't ask him what his favourite system is, he has too many.