Helldivers 2 patch nerfs the best guns as designer says the balancing process will be "never-ending"

In September last year, developer Weta Workshop and publisher Private Division announced Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, describing it as a “heartwarming” game that will see players experiencing “a cozy Hobbit life”. Details on the title beyond those initial tidbits have been scant, but that will soon be changing with a new trailer.

The year got off to a rather slow start when it comes to horror movies, but now that the release calendar has ramped up, there are at least a few horror movies worth watching in 2024.

It's been a turbulent few days in the Helldivers 2 community. Arrowhead Game Studios (and the Ministry of Truth) has finally admitted that flying bugs are real, and the airborne critters are currently running wild in the game. We were also given a seriously tough Major Order from galactic game master Joel, which tasked us with liberating five planets in just three days.

Starfield's action-packed ending came together in a last-minute scramble after the developers realized that the RPG was lacking a satisfying finale.

Helldivers 2 is full of powerful weapons to smash up bots and squash bugs, ranging from satisfying firearms to explosive orbital strikes that often do more harm to you and your team than the actual enemies. Out of them all, though, one weapon stands out to game director Johan Pilestedt for having the best design.

There's a conspiracy deep at the heart of , and the recent update only complicates the matter. announces in-game events via Major Orders, transmissions from the development team that direct players to complete certain types of missions on certain planets. Major Orders track the progress of players worldwide, allowing Helldivers everywhere to share a common goal, and promoting further unity among the people of Super Earth.

In a world of AI-generated scripts and recycled story tropes, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire director Adam Wingard says his upcoming sequel focuses on character study – so much so that it's the franchise’s answer to Fast & Furious’ Fast Five. 

makes a point of recommending the use of firearms in the war for Super Earth but one player is going a completely different route. When there are countless Automatons and Terminids swarming the galaxy, it stands to reason that taking them out will require some heavy firepower either shot from orbit or through the barrel of a gun. Having said that, sometimes a dedicated Helldiver just needs to get down and dirty, trading in an Eagle Strafing Run for the butt of their rifle.

Boosters in are unique enhancements that provide you with special bonuses for the duration of a mission, significantly improving your abilities and resources. Once acquired with your hard-earned Medals, awarded for successful missions, these Boosters can be applied to every mission afterward. A total of six Boosters can be unlocked from the Mobilize Warbond pages and just one from the Steeled Veterans Warbond pages, offering a variety of strategic advantages to tailor your gameplay experience.

The biggest threat to democracy in isn't bugs or Automatons — sometimes, it's other players. Despite being a relatively new game, has already developed a devoted community. That largely stems from its co-op gameplay, which encourages, if not requires, concentrated teamwork. It's not always perfect — selfishness isn't unheard of in . Still, players soldier on, working to get more players invested in the effort to spread democracy through the universe.

The action genre had a fantastic 2023, with strong new entries in banner franchises and exciting one-off movies from creators established and upcoming alike.

Helldivers 2 players are praising the underrated Arc Thrower as "one of the strongest weapons in the game" and one you should consider using.