Summary
Just like any other part of the wider entertainment industry, video game trends have come and gone countless times, often affecting large portions of the gaming industry for a little while, before disappearing completely. Of course, when a video game trend proves to be successful, it hangs around a lot longer, but it often undergoes major changes to become a permanent part of the video game industry. A perfect example of this was the rise of the battle royale, popularized by games likeFortniteandPUBG. But afterCall of Duty: WarzoneandApex Legendsjoined the party, the desire to make battle royales quickly left the industry. And now,Helldivers 2could be on the verge of kickstarting the industry’s newest trend.
Released back at the start of February,Helldivers 2has dominated much of the wider video game consciousness for the last month. A live-service multiplayer shooter that sees players drop onto a planet, eradicate as many bugs and Automatons as possible, complete some objectives, and extract with as much loot as possible,Helldivers 2offers an addictive core gameplay loop, and it’s this gameplay loop that could end up giving the industry its newest short-term obsession.
Helldivers 2 Could Start a New Trend for Military Shooters
Helldivers 2 Has Been a Resounding Success
Just three days after its release,Helldivers 2had sold an incredibly impressive one million copies. Though technically a sequel to a 2015 PS Vita and PS4 game,Helldivers 2is far from an established IP, and its ability to sell over a million copies so quickly is a sheer testament to the game’s quality. And that was just the start. Over the course of February,Helldivers 2has only continued to grow in salesand mainstream popularity, with it recently being semi-confirmed by Arrowhead Studios that the game has managed to sell around three million copies in just three weeks.
The surprising success ofHelldivers 2likely comes down to a few major factors, the first of which is the game’s core premise and gameplay loop. A satirical take on modern world politics through the lens of a Sci-Fi galaxy-wide war,Helldivers 2channels the very best ofStarship Trooperswhile also carving out its own unique identity. The same can be said forHelldivers 2’s gameplay, which takes elements from extraction shooters likeEscape From Tarkovand twists them in new and exciting ways, such as turning the simple act of calling in a Strategem ability into aDance Dance Revolution-like minigame.
Another major factor behindHelldivers 2’s success- which is only really possible due to the game’s high quality - isHelldivers2’s online presence. While its initial marketing push from Sony was substantial, a great deal ofHelldivers 2’s most effective marketing has actually come post-launch, with thousands of players taking to Twitter and TikTok to ask for support on specific planets, or to share their most chaotic, movie-worthy battles.
Helldivers 2’s Formula Would Work Well with Other Franchises
It’s clear thatHelldivers 2is already one ofthe biggest games of 2024, and where there’s success in the gaming space, there’s usually a horde of big video game publishers that want a piece of the pie. It’s a very real possibility thatHelldivers 2’s unique galaxy-spanning gameplay loop and live-service approach could go on to be used by other developers, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
There are a wealth of popular video game franchises that could work wonders withHelldivers 2’s gameplay formula. TheHalofranchise is a natural first pick, with its own Orbital Drop Shock Troopers looking remarkably similar toHelldivers' titular Sci-Fi soldiers, but interestingly, it was recently revealed by former 343 Industries lead designer Kevin Schmitt that a number of ODST-themed pitches were made years ago, including one that apparently shared similarities withHelldivers. OtherSci-Fi gaming franchises likeTitanfalland evenDoomwould also be natural fits forHelldivers 2’s formula. EvenCall of Dutycould give the formula a go, maybe implementing it insideWarzonelike it did with the extraction shooter mode DMZ.
Helldivers 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Do you believe in freedom? Can you stand in the face of oppression – and defend the defenceless? Wage war for peace. Die for democracy.Join forces with up to three friends and wreak havoc on an alien scourge threatening the safety of your home planet, Super Earth, in this multiplayer co-op shooter for PS5 and PC from Arrowhead Game Studios.Step into the boots of the Helldivers, an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty and Managed Democracy using the biggest, baddest and most explosive tools in the galaxy.Helldivers don’t go planet side without proper backup, but it’s up to you to decide how and when to call it in. Not only do you have a host of superpowered primary weapons and customizable loadouts, you also have the ability to call on stratagems during play.Helldivers 2 features Arrowhead’s best cooperative gameplay yet. Collaboration will be vital: Teams will synergize on loadouts, strategize their approach for each mission and complete objectives together.1Enlist in Super Earth’s premier military peacekeeping force today. We are heroes… we are legends… WE ARE HELLDIVERS.
