It's been nearly three months since Arrowhead Game Studios updated Helldivers 2 with a new Warbond battle pass, with the last one being the Dust Devils pack that came out in early September alongside the big Into the Unjust update. Largely, this is because the developers chose to focus on optimizing the game instead of developing new content for it, as Helldivers 2 was recently in a very rough state performance-wise.
Now that many of those issues have been ironed out across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5 with patches, though, the developers are putting out a fresh Warbond called Python Commandos on December 2 — and it's bringing a new stratagem to the third-person co-op shooter that I (and countless others) have wanted for ages.
That stratagem is a handheld, backpack-fed minigun support weapon called the M-1000 Maxigun, and based on the gameplay footage of it seen in the trailer for Python Commandos (you can watch it here or with the embed below), it looks like you'll be able to put far more lead downrange with it than you could ever hope to with Helldivers 2's other machine gun support weapons, at the cost of having to be stationary while firing.
Frankly, the minigun alone would make this Warbond a must-buy for me — I am absolutely stoked to live out my heavy gunner fantasies in the battlefields of the Galactic War — but Arrowhead has included a sweet chainsaw support weapon in the CQC-9 Defoliation Tool as well. This one likely won't end up being that good on higher difficulties since being in melee range is insanely risky in general, but it will undoubtedly be fun to mess around with.
Something that may help make the chainsaw viable, though, is the Rock Solid armor passive included on Python Commandos' RS-20 Constrictor (light) and RS-40 Beast of Prey (heavy) armor sets. This passive makes you resistant to stumbling and ragdolling, which should help you shrug off the staggering effects of Terminid pincers or Illuminate Voteless hordes as you're cutting through the masses.
Other gameplay additions in the Warbond include the AR/GL-21 One Two, an assault rifle equipped with an underslung grenade launcher, and a flamethrower variant of Helldivers 2's backpack-carried mobile sentry drones called the AX/FLAM-75 "Guard Dog" Hot Dog.
Beyond that, there's a handful of new player banners, capes, and vehicle skins bearing jungle camo designs, a goofy new push-ups emote, and a Python Commando player title. All in all, between the minigun, the jungle color scheme of the new cosmetics, and the design of the mask on the RS-20 Constrictor helmet, this Warbond is giving some serious old-school Predator vibes, and I'm 100% here for it.
I'd have liked to see a new grenade or secondary weapon as well to round out Python Commandos, but overall, it looks to be an awesome new Warbond, and one I won't hesitate to buy on day one. I can't wait to get my hands on that minigun — and notably, since it's confirmed to have medium armor penetration, it will be effective against most units from all three enemy factions.
Aside from recent technical woes, it's been an excellent year for Helldivers 2, with big highlights including the Battle for Super Earth in May and the explosive launch of an Xbox port in August. Since then, the game has continued to sell well on Xbox, and Sony has considered its release on the platform a "huge success."
Helldivers 2 is available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5 for $39.99. Note that the PC version is on sale for a sizable discount, though, and goes for just $26.39 at Loaded right now.
FAQ
What is Helldivers 2?
Helldivers 2 is a third-person co-op shooter developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by PlayStation Studios. In it, you and up to three other players work together with powerful weapons, air support call-ins, and more to complete objectives while fighting a war against Super Earth's alien rivals.
What are Helldivers 2 Warbonds?
Warbonds are battle pass-like content packs that feature new armors, weapons, stratagems (gameplay call-ins), and cosmetics, among other types of unlocks. You acquire the items in them by spending Warbond Medals, which are earned by completing missions and community-wide Major Orders in the shooter's live-service metagame.
How much do Helldivers 2 Warbonds cost?
Warbonds in Helldivers 2 have a standard price of $9.99 (1,000 Super Credits), though the Halo ODST crossover was a Legendary Warbond that cost $14.99 (1,500 Super Credits). You can buy the Super Credits currency you need for them with real money, though they can also be earned — slowly — by finding them during gameplay.
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