Arrowhead, the developers behind the successful co-op shooter Helldivers 2, have recently had difficulty getting guns into the hands of the community. Helldivers 2 For months, players have been unable to unlock a new strategy: deployable weapons and tools to use mid-match. The situation has gotten so bad for those poor creatures that the community now suspects they’re being tricked by Arrowhead into unlocking them via the latest, most obscure Grand Order.
First teased as a unlockable strategy back in aprilthe anti-tank mine strategy suffered a particularly cruel fate in Helldivers 2‘s five-month lifespan. When they were first offered, it was like a choice between two strategies: either the mines or a rocket launcher. Players had to choose between liberating two planets that matched one of the strategies, and whoever was liberated first got their weapons. The rocket launcher won, and the mines were put away until the next big order.
Sometime later, the community was tasked with an even greater mission, with the goal of killing two billion Automatons, one of the Helldivers 2enemy factions, and a very brutal to fight against. As a reward for completing the grand quest, players were given a second chance at the anti-tank mines. This time, the Helldivers 2 player base fell short of target, although it is unclear whether this was due to decreasing numberslack of interest in the reward, simply not meeting such a high demand, or a combination of all these factors.
Last month, Arrowhead again offered the mines a choice of two outcomes: Helldivers 2 players were placed in their own trolley problem and forced to choose between saving the literal children of Super Earth or a factory that would produce the mines. The community chose the children.
Which brings us to the current grand order and its rather simple goal: the liberation and defense of the planet X-45. It is so simple that the grand order has already been completed with days left on the timer. Helldivers 2 Players fear there is a hidden motive behind the defense of X-45. Most major orders are clear about the rewards that will be given upon completion, but the current order largely obscures that fact.
Instead, the reward for this important order is most often referred to as “weapons from the First Galactic War.” At first, players suspected that this was the return of a weapon from the original Hell diverswhich could still be the case. That idea has not entirely convinced the conspirators, who are now thoroughly convinced that these are Arrowheads (and specifically that of Joel) way to deceive players Finally the unlocking of the mines.
People in the Helldivers 2 subreddit, have run away with it messages joking about the conspiracy. A message is titled, in capital letters, “HER FALL. RETREAT. RETREAT. THEY WANT TO GIVE US THE MINES.” The fall language has shifted to other messagesand one of my favorites even uses a known Star Wars meme template with great effect. One player sincerely asked if the language of the grand order suggested they would unlock an older one Hell divers weapon, and the comments are full of people shouting about the great mining conspiracy of 2024. I’m inclined to believe them and here’s why.
Mines aren’t as sexy as a new gun, which makes sense why players aren’t too keen on getting them. The quest to kill two billion automatons was poorly timed, as the game was still recovering from the PSN Relation that almost cost it and Arrowhead their respective good reputationsand suffered from lower than normal play counts. The trolley problem seemed to poke fun at the unique situation of the mines, but also seemed like a tacit admission from the developers that it was an unpopular choice. How otherwise Could the developers get these tools out of our reach? of directly misleading us to earn them? It’s like hiding a dog’s medicine in its food.
X-45 has become a popular planet since Arrowhead new jungle biome. Players have already flocked to every planet rocking the new look, so why not place a grand order there to ensure that the majority of the active player base supports the completion of the grand order? Furthermore, most grand orders are more long-term affairs that are spread out over the defense or liberation of multiple planets. In this case, however, we literally only need to hold one planet and everyone is already there. It’s no wonder that there are 3 days left to complete the objective and it’s already done.
I don’t know what to believe at this point, but I do know that it would be fucking hilarious if Arrowhead had tricked their community into supporting this effort just to give them the mines. I’m on my knees literally praying that next week comes around and we have them all unlocked. It would make my whole life better.