PlayStation had itself a big showcase today, showing off many, many games coming down the pipeline in the near future. It included heavy hitters such as Spider-Man 2 and the long-awaited Alan Wake 2 (you can check out that trailer right here), but it also featured a sequel that took many of us by surprise: Helldivers 2. Those among us, such as myself, who were unfamiliar with this franchise until today would be forgiven for thinking this looked like a big, AAA Starship Troopers video game because it absolutely does. That is absolutely a compliment. Take a look.
If that doesn’t give some extremely hardcore Starship Troopers vibes, I don’t know what does. I was half expecting Casper Van Dien to show up as Rico. Worthy of Paul Verhoeven, dare I say. Admittedly, I was unfamiliar with the original Helldivers, which came out in 2015. Coming at this blind, I was amazed that this wasn’t based on the source material in question. The timing is also interesting, as another video game, Starship Troopers: Extermination, recently hit early access on Steam. In any event, Helldivers 2 looks like an absolute blast.
The game sees players working in squads to take out massive, bug-like alien threats across various planets. It is being developed by the folks at Arrowhead Games Studios, who were also behind the original. It is described as a “heart-pounding, high-intensity, friendly-fire-enabled feast of cooperative destruction!” Players will again assume the role of galactic peacekeepers and soldiers on behalf of Super Earth. Johan Pilestedt, CEO and Game Director at Arrowhead had this to say about it:
“I’m ecstatic to finally reveal the project we’ve devoted ourselves to over the past few years. Our team’s achievements in this time have been a source of immense pride. Whether you’re a seasoned player of the original game or a newcomer to the Helldivers universe, I can’t wait for you to dive into our tongue-in-cheek portrayal of a totalitarian regime. Brace yourselves for adrenaline-fueled moments, intense action, and a bond that forms when you rely on your team to complete missions or comically fail due to the reckless handling of over-the-top firepower. Most importantly, we hope that the laughter we share in the studio while playing the game will resonate with you as you enjoy this crazy universe.”
One potential downside is that this game will require an internet connection, which is becoming increasingly common. So don’t expect to have this on standby on days when your internet suddenly goes down. The good news is that it will also be available on PC as well as the PlayStation 5, so people such as myself who have a Steam Deck can get in on the action as well.
Helldivers 2 arrives later this year, but no specific release date has been announced just yet.
