Copypasted directly from source:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/?emclan=103582791473678397&emgid=4339866697736692015
Fellow Helldivers,
I want to directly address the feedback you’ve raised about the Escalation of Freedom update. We’ve spent the last week listening to feedback, reflecting about the path ahead for Helldivers 2 and how we want to continue developing the game. In short, we didn’t hit our target with the latest update. Some things we just didn’t get right - and other more fundamental inconsistencies in our approach to game balance and game direction.
All of that is on us and we are going to own that. As many of you have pointed out, and we agree, what matters most now is action. Not talk.
To that end, here’s what we intend to do in the upcoming updates.
Our aim within the next 60 days: Continue to re-examine our approach to balance. Our intention is that balance should be fun, not “balanced” for the sake of balance. Update how the fire damage mechanic works to tweak how the flamethrower serves as a close range support weapon. (A quick straight revert won’t work, as it would break other things) Rework gameplay to prevent excessive ragdolling Re-think our design approach to primary weapons and create a plan for making combat more engaging Re-prioritize bug fixes so that the more immediate gameplay-impacting bugs are prioritized. Improve game performance (frame rate is a focus) Rework Chargers
Additionally, from a bigger picture perspective we will be: Exploring creation of an opt-in beta-test environment to improve our testing processes and we consider this a high-priority. Post regular player surveys to gather more insights and feedback from the community. Improve our process for patch/release notes - providing more context and reasoning behind changes. More blog posts and streams where we expand on these topics for those interested. We also want to thank you for your patience. We’re grateful that so many of you provided constructive feedback and suggestions on the latest update.
Mikael E Game Director & Arrowhead Game Studios
At some point the apologies cease to retain legitimacy
This is almost exactly like the last statement they put out after balancing complaints, and the statement before that. They told us they learned their lesson last time, but here we are again in the exact same situation, again.
Less statements about doing better and at least a little showing an attempt at doing better would be nice.
Good.
Still having fun playing it…even if sometimes I look a a minor point of interest and am then yeeted across the void into an abyss I wish I could experience on shrooms.
I still get good squads and everyone seems t9 habe fun when we roll through. Could it be better? Yeah… Could the player base just take a chill pill…also yeah.
Games are played to have fun, if you are not having fun play something else, and then come back when it is fixed to your satisfaction.
Granted, i am the guy they’re not making the game for because im not spending more xash on builds but grinding because its high season and i need a mindless grind game that is interesting (my previous go to was the OG SW Battlefront 1 & 2, but sold the xbox to get a steam deck).
Anyway, thats my 2 cents.
So much outrage over what could be a simple fix(es).
The flame thrower is a support short range weapon with limited scope. Giving it heavy armor penetration wouldn’t change much about how and when it’s used. It would allow the new primary and secondary to still be balanced with the others in their class, and keep the flamethrower support as a fan favorite.
The nerfing of the incindiary breaker was short sighted at best. I personally was ok with it until I learned they only did it because it was a popular weapon. Look at fucking why it’s popular especially against bugs. Wide and medium range burn damage that is excellent at shooting into a grouping, bug hole, patrol, and chase line of little guys and decimating the group with a few shots and little to no needed accuracy. They made a longer range but weaker flamethrower and didn’t expect it to shine a head and shoulders above the rest of the primaries when it comes to tightly grouped pack opponents? Knee jerk nerfs without any kind of insight on why something is being used is something I’m familiar with thanks to warframe, but it still feels bad.
they only did it because it was a popular weapon. Look at fucking why it’s popular
This has been my belief too. You can’t just look at the numbers provided by metrics and make decisions based solely on those, you have to use your metrics to understand the underlying reasons for why those numbers are happening.
I’m curious why they can’t just revert flame mechanics, what would it “break”?
Or do they mean it would make the new enemies too easy to kill?
I like how the game director’s name is Mikael E Game Director. It’s like he was born for the job!