In a recent communication to its player community, Arrowhead Games has addressed an unfortunate incident involving cheaters who disrupted the latest Major Order in Helldivers 2. The studio, known for its engaging narrative style, delivered the news in a manner befitting the game’s lore, stating that “Super Earth High Command has detected a large batch of counterfeit samples within the delivery of the last Major Order.”
Response to Cheating
In response to the cheating scandal, Arrowhead has rewarded all non-cheating players with Medals, adhering to the game’s theme of honor and duty. The studio humorously added that those who submitted false samples faced dire consequences, with their “pet fish summarily executed.” This tongue-in-cheek approach reflects the game’s satirical tone while addressing a serious issue.
The Major Order tasked players with collecting millions of samples of Terminid matter over a four-day period. However, as players quickly completed two-thirds of the objectives within just a few hours, suspicions arose regarding the integrity of the results. Despite the implementation of anti-cheat software, the presence of hackers in the cooperative environment of Helldivers 2 has been a persistent challenge. Some players have reportedly exploited cheats to gain unfair advantages, such as accessing unreleased vehicles or activating god mode.
Community member Unique5673 on the Helldivers subreddit has pointed to “sample duplication cheats” as a likely factor in the recent disruption. While the game’s anti-cheat measures fell short this time, Arrowhead is expected to conduct a manual investigation to identify and address the players who engaged in cheating.
As the game’s narrative unfolds, the outcome of the Major Order will be treated as a failure, despite the rewards distributed to honest players. This incident aligns with a growing trend of unrest within the Helldivers 2 community, where players have previously protested changes to game mechanics, such as a nerf to the flamethrower. The subreddit has become a platform for both complaints and admiration for the so-called “Chaosdivers,” highlighting the diverse opinions among the player base.
Through it all, Arrowhead Games has managed to maintain the momentum of Helldivers 2’s reactive storytelling, ensuring that the game continues to evolve in response to player actions. As a poignant reminder of the consequences of this cheating debacle, one can only pause to reflect on the fate of the fish caught in the crossfire.
