The Helldivers 2 group took the most recent in a collection of stunned gasps this weekend when a video emerged purporting to point out Arrowhead sport grasp Joel becoming a member of a random participant’s sport, dropping an unreleased automobile onto the battlefield, after which leaving so he can “get again to work.”
After Joel’s departure, the remaining gamers are capable of hop into the automobile and drive round. The clip, shared by a fan account on Twitter that reposts different individuals’s Helldivers 2 content material, has racked up over one million eyeballs in 24 hours.
Whereas it might be on-brand for Arrowhead to disclose a significant new characteristic by making one thing randomly seem for gamers, sadly, that is in all probability not what’s taking place right here. Judging by what we already learn about autos in Helldivers 2, and what little we learn about Arrowhead’s mysterious dungeon grasp, it is more likely that we’re coping with a Joel impersonator who ought to be reported to the Ministry of Fact.
The very fact is that the “Joel” within the viral clip may very well be anyone. A fast Steam search reveals a number of accounts at the moment (or beforehand) named “[AH] Joel” who’ve additionally performed Helldivers 2 just lately. Any of those Joel imposters may very well be among the many group of gamers that is been spawning unreleased autos into unsuspecting Helldivers 2 lobbies for practically a month. It is believed that they are getting access to the APC seen within the video, in addition to a quicker buggy automobile and some unreleased weapons, via cheat software program. The identical factor occurred with mechs weeks earlier than they had been formally launched.
So what appears extra seemingly: that Joel himself dropped in to personally ship the primary official Helldivers 2 APC, or that somebody with cheats put in was having a little bit of enjoyable?
“Joel: Please take this”WHAT?!!#Helldivers2 #HelldiversII pic.twitter.com/zoOSpd1I57March 24, 2024
We won’t categorically rule out that Arrowhead’s shadowy string-puller is not at work right here or will not pull an analogous stunt sooner or later, however it’s telling that the official Helldivers 2 social channels, in addition to talkative CEO Johan Pilestedt, have been radio silent on autos for the reason that first leaks emerged—a distinction to the “flying bugs” conspiracy and blue laser investigation nonetheless unfolding.
We will additionally in all probability take a lesson from how the discharge of mechs performed out. Arrowhead distanced itself from the leaks proper up till it was able to reveal them by itself phrases with the Tien Kwan liberation occasion.
The excellent news is the automobile within the video appears very a lot actual. We have gotten a take a look at this APC in its unfinished state a number of instances now and it looks like it will be a strong mobility instrument. It will seat 4 divers with one driver and a minimum of two gunner positions—the mannequin proven off within the video is outfitted with Stalwart machineguns. Curiously, the motive force has to manually shift between two ahead gears in addition to reverse, impartial, and park. Autos even have restricted gasoline.
The APC on this newer video really seems farther alongside than leaks from a month in the past—the gearshift UI is cleaner, although the van continues to be lacking sound. With how briskly issues have been transferring with Helldivers 2 in its first month, the watch for official autos is likely to be shorter than you suppose.