Last year,Helldivers 2hit the scene, and it really shook up the industry. Developer Arrowhead Game Studios is a much smaller team than a lot of the heavy-hitters that also released games last year, but the humble studio proved itself as a worthy competitor.Helldivers 2has amassed an impressive following, and its fun approach to the live-service multiplayer formula is partially to thank.
However, there isa small bump inHelldivers 2’s roadthat will hopefully be addressed eventually in the future. Right now,Helldivers 2is a fully online experience, so if the game wants to live on, adding an offline mode may be necessary.Helldivers 2is a big hit now, but as time passes, the game’s hold on the industry may begin to erode, and that could hurt its longevity in its current online-only state.
For the Sake of its Players, Helldivers 2 Should Add Offline Mode Down the Road
Helldivers 2is one of the most successful multiplayer games at the moment. The sci-fi-heavy third-person shooter may not be raking in the same numbers asFortniteorCall of Duty, but it has managed to keep devoted players coming back for more with each new update and Major Order. Also, the fact thatfailed Major Orderscan have some seriously dire consequences really gives players an incentive to return to the battlefield and fight for Super Earth. However, as great asHelldivers 2is, the day will eventually come where its player counts will likely begin dwindling, or even worse, the servers may shut down.
Helldivers 2added its first new faction, the Illuminate, in December of last year. There have also been theories that a human rebel faction could be a fourth enemy type, but this has yet to be confirmed.
Online gaming is very much the norm now, but it can also ultimately hurt a game’s staying power. There have been a number of games that get shut down, never to be played again. Fromthe failure ofConcordto the original version ofOverwatchbeing left behind, many games have been taken offline, making them ghosts of what they once were.
Unfortunately,Helldivers 2is bound to eventually meet the same fate. Strong player numbers can only last so long, and Arrowhead Game Studios only has so many tricks up its sleeve before there are no more surprises left. There’s no way to knowwhatHelldivers 2holds in storeright now, but as the years move on, it won’t be surprising if things start to get predictable.
Helldivers 2is a big hit now, but as time passes, the game’s hold on the industry may begin to erode.
Arrowhead Game Studios CEO Shams Jorjani recently stated, “The game is in flux, and we like not knowing what will happen next.”
An Offline Mode Will Only Expand Helldivers 2’s Player-First Mentality
Preserving matchmaking with friends is hopefully possible, but this remains to be seen.Helldivers 2’s replayabilityis its biggest asset at the moment, but there are other games on the horizon that could eventually overshadow the fight for Super Earth. Online play is definitely currently at the heart of theHelldivers 2experience, but Arrowhead Game Studios is also hopefully prepared to evolve when the time calls for it.
As of now,Helldivers 2continues to entertain, and that’s wonderful. There’s no way to know what the future holds, but for the sake ofHelldivers 2lovers, eventually getting an offline version may be the key to preserving the game long after its time has passed.
