Why Helldivers 2's D&D-Inspired Meta War Is Exactly What We Need Right Now From a Live Service Game

ign.com:

Robot Vietnam has fallen. Helldivers have failed their Major Order to defend against the Automatons, and now the Termanids are one step closer to humanity’s homeworld.

This collection of defeats amounts to a sad moment for Helldivers 2 fans. But it's an event that will only embolden it. It’s difficult to think of any game in recent memory that has united a player base quite like Helldivers 2 has. The fight to push back alien frontlines has captured people’s imagination in such a way that it’s generated memes, camaraderie, and – most importantly – loyalty. A loyalty that has spread, bringing in new troops for the war effort day after day. But what’s the secret behind this cultural phenomenon? Well, aside from just being a bloody good game, it’s the Dungeons & Dragons of it all. Developer Arrowhead has made a galactic-scale RPG and everyone wants a seat at the table.

// For Immediate Public Release

// 2/27/2024

[Unknown] on Malevelon Creek, having missed the last Pelican out after the planet fell, requesting the remaining Destroyers in the system glass his grid square before warping out.

We will return. pic.twitter.com/pJvLAd5qq8

At first glance, it’s easy to compare Helldivers 2’s dynamically shifting frontlines to those seen in PlanetSide 2, Sony’s cult 2012 shooter. There certainly are broad similarities; the actions of Helldivers players contributes to the liberation percentage of planets across the galaxy. If the community successfully completes enough missions on a given planet it falls under the control of Super Earth. Liberate every planet in a sector and the galaxy’s frontline can be reshaped. This overall goal, to push back the eastern and western fronts plagued by the robot Automatons and insectoid Termanids respectively, is made surprisingly engaging by the way your contributions help push forward day-to-day changes to the big picture.

The small, dynamic shifts within this sure-to-be-long-waging war creates a sense of authenticity. Just days ago, the planet