Helldivers 2 players aren’t happy with new Polar Patriots Warbond

Helldivers 2's recent update has introduced brand new cosmetics and weapons as part of the Polar Patriots Warbond. This is a premium-tier pass that players can purchase with Super Credits. Unfortunately, the majority of the players aren't happy with this update as its weapons are lackluster, and the aesthetic choices aren't for everyone.

Out of all the things that aren't working for the game right now, the Polar Patriots Warbond has introduced a weapon that's just not fitting the meta. The PLAS-101 Purifier has been an underwhelming addition to the game's arsenal, to say the least; in fact, it's one of the worst weapons in the game.

User Dushnila_complainer has rightly pointed out that the gun does the opposite of what it promises. By default, it's an energy-based weapon pays off the more you hold your trigger. However, even if you choose to hold down the trigger and fire it after a while, the gun has low output. A standard damage of 250 doesn't feel great when the charge-up is so slow. If you're fighting Automaton variants with this weapon, there's a big chance that you'll be overwhelmed by faster enemies such as Marauders and Berserkers.

The Reddit community has been quite vocal about a broader issue, too: the game's meta isn't supportive of Assault Rifles in general. It's quite tricky for players to go against bigger hordes of enemies (such as Terminids) with them/

The user also pointed out the game's ongoing problems that keep the quality of life at an all-time low. They mentioned how there have been no passives for any armor type in over three months, and there have been horrible balance decisions as of late.

Going forward, it's going to be challenging for Helldivers 2 players to engage in a gameplay loop that's not supporting their hard work. According to SteamDB, the game has 119,702 players (24-hour peak), which is less than half compared to its all-time high (458,709). Player drop-off like this is within the range of typical, though subpar updates like this one and the recently PSN controversy surely aren't helping. In any case, Arrowhead will need to find new ways to keep the game interesting.

Helldivers 2's Discord community isn't supportive of the Warbond update either

The official Helldivers 2 Discord channel conducted a poll for the new update today. At the time of writing, a big chunk of the players (47% votes) admitted that they didn't like the new update. Many players are also asking for better patches and updates rather than cosmetic changes.

The comments section on this one points out that the Warbond's aesthetics simply don't match the theme, and the game's current balance changes don't have enough updates to keep players interested.

At present, the only gameplay loop that has kept older players in the game is customizable difficulty. With each new area of the galaxy that is conquered, Helldivers 2 players have the chance to try similar missions with greater challenges. But will players get tired of this too? Only time will tell.

For more content on Helldivers 2, such as finding the best ways to farm War Medals in the game, look no further than Pro Game Guides.