Helldivers 2 announces slower gear releases alongside its latest warbond, Viper Commandos—which brings the game's first vehicle skins (and a rad-looking throwing knife)

GamesThird Person ShooterHelldivers 2Helldivers 2 announces slower gear releases alongside its latest warbond, Viper Commandos—which brings the game’s first vehicle skins (and a rad-looking throwing knife)When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Arrowhead Games / Sony)

A Helldivers 2 soldier in a dense jungle poses with two fingers outstretched. In their other hand balances a cool-looking throwing knife aimed at the enemies of liberty.

Helldivers 2 appears to have taken on some of the criticism aimed at its last Warband,Polar Patriots, thoroughly on-board—seeing as this new batch of armaments looks geared to add some more unique mechanics into the game.

As announced on the Helldivers 2 Twitter today, the Viper Commandos warbond will be arriving June 13.

Welcome to the jungle, Helldivers. You won’t have time to bleed when the new Viper Commandos Warbond deploys on June 13.Additionally, High Command have approved the rollout of our first vehicle customization. Full briefing: https://t.co/21Dnmzl4AN[1/6] pic.twitter.com/dw37j22kzOJune 6, 2024

A full write-up of the warbond can be found on the PlayStation website, going intofiner detail—but I’m going to focus on the two newer features first before getting into any guntalk. Don’t say I never gave you anything.

First up, the elephant in the room: Helldivers 2 is getting knives. The K-2 throwing knife will be a utility weapon, likely replacing your grenade slot. The blog itself doesn’t give much hints on how it’ll work, but I’d wager since you’re sacrificing your ability to blow up hordes of bugs and plug up nests that the K-2 will represent some kind of renewable alternative to the grenades that’s far weaker, but more efficient.

Whether it’ll actually be used much is a question of damage—I’d actually be open to the knife having a grenade-like amount of uses, but being a one-shot option for all but the heaviest enemies. Now we just need to get the fine folks at Super Earth R&D to figure out how to make a gun thatshootsknives. You can have that one for free, Arrowhead.

The other exciting element is ship decal customisation. Accessed through the ship management screen, the warbond’s trio of camo decals will be applicable to your pelican, your hellpod, and your mechs.

(Image credit: Arrowhead Games)

An image showing off the new ship and hellpod skin customisations for Helldivers 2’s upcoming Warbond.

Here’s a list of the other weapons, armour pieces, and the booster that’ll be included in the warbond:

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You’ll notice that there are fewer weapons and armour choices this time around. This is deliberate, as the game’s twitter accountreveals: “As you can see with Viper Commandos, we’re experimenting with Warbond item arrangement to make room for new types, customization, and higher quality armour/weapons—all with stronger theming.” In addition, Warbonds should be releasing at a slower pace going forward, though the new timeframe isyet to be confirmed.

(Image credit: @helldivers2 on Twitter/X.)

A post that reads: “Finally, we wanted to share that that, based on your feedback, we’re changing our approach to Warbonds.Firstly, we’re slowing the pace that we release Warbonds to allow a little more time to polish them. (We’ll confirm what that new timeframe will be in the future)[5/6]"

Honestly, both of these seem like sound decisions. As I mentionedback in May, it’d be impossible for Arrowhead Games to stay on top of balancing and bugfixes while also releasing four new weapons a month—slower Warbonds with more deliberately-designed armaments sounds like the way to G.I-go.

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