PlayStation and Arrowhead Game Studios have just dropped a heap of new information on Helldivers II, this year’s upcoming PS5 and PC exclusive sequel to the thoroughly underappreciated 2015 top-down shooter, along with a lengthy “dev diary” style trailer for the game which shows off some great looks at it in action on PS5 hardware.
The bulk of the video and accompanying PlayStation Blog post focuses on co-op gameplay and the return of the Stratagem system, defining the tools and gear that players will be able to summon in the heat of battle from airstrikes to gatling turrets and Hellpods full of gnarly weapons. Stratagems will form the core of co-op strategy as players will need to coordinate and decide on the appropriate load-outs for the mission ahead from defensive options to weapons that are particularly suited to certain enemy types.
Also, in a move that’s sure to aggravate anyone unlucky enough to be playing in a squad with me, friendly fire is most certainly a thing in Helldivers II, including the potential to accidentally call in a Hellpod directly on a teammate or forget to give warning and bombard them with a rain of fire from above. Oops.
Helldivers II continues to look fantastic in its new third-person camera format, almost calling to mind the kind of transition that Housemarque made from its Super Stardust days to the remarkable Returnal. We still don’t have a release date, but it’s scheduled to launch sometime this year.
Check out the Co-op and Combat Trailer for Helldivers 2 below:
Stratagems return with bigger and badder weapons and gear than ever before. Find out how teaming up with friends may make or break your mission in HELLDIVERS 2. Join the Helldivers to fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in third-person co-op shooter operations.
Developed by Arrowhead Game Studios. Coming soon to PlayStation 5 and Steam on PC.
