Helldivers 2 just dropped its latest major update, “Battle for Cyberstan,” as part of the “Machinery of Oppression” rollout, and players are sounding off.
While some are calling it the toughest and most intense content yet, a portion of the community says the update exposes the same problem the game has had since launch: the enemies are even more overpowered, and I’ll add that I think the guns still suck.
Vox Engines are too OP
The biggest complaint centers on the new Vox Engines introduced on Cyberstan.
I’ve seen three or more Vox Engines dropping at once, with Vox units scattered across the entire map (in addition to the drops!), and near-constant tracking, as they seem able to find you anywhere.
The result? Missions feel less like tactical combat and more like nonstop chaos. Between ragdoll effects, one-shots, and swarms of Automaton and Cyborg units, many say it borders on unplayable, especially for anyone not running a “perfect” squad setup.
Weapons Feel Worse Than Ever
The update has also put a spotlight on weapon balance, and not in a good way (something I’ve been critical of since launch).
I’ve seen players recommending only a handful of viable options, including the Punisher Plasma and the PLAS-101 Purifier.
Outside of those, most assault rifles are being called completely useless (what? are we going to stun the Automatons with 55-damage Pacifier?!).
YouTuber Pirate Software streamed the update live and emptied an entire magazine from the Sickle directly into a Cyborg’s head, and it did nothing (I was watching).
The core complaint isn’t just difficulty. It’s that players don’t feel equipped to deal with the difficulty. When enemies are buffed, but weapons aren’t (or how about when they’ve been nerfed?! — give us back the OG Quasar Cannon!!!), it exposes what many say has been the game’s biggest flaw from day one: a lack of quality guns and weapons.
Ammo Problems and Siege Armor Issues
Another major frustration is ammo economy.
Even players using Siege armor are running out of ammo quickly, especially in extended Cyberstan missions. With constant enemy pressure and limited breathing room, resupply becomes a full-time job (and what happens when another player calls down the Resupply across the map?!).
That feeds into the feeling that the update is artificially difficult rather than skill-based.
FX-12 Shield Generator Relay Feels Mandatory
The update temporarily makes the FX-12 Shield Generator Relay available to all players.
But instead of feeling like a bonus, it feels like a requirement.
In fact, some are asking what Cyberstan would even look like without it. The sense is that the content may not be tuned around standard loadouts, and once the 24-hour access ends, things could get even rougher.
Bugs and Connection Issues Still Linger
Beyond balance concerns, the technical problems remain.
Players continue to report reload failures, explosives misfires, hitbox issues, enemies respawning after death, PC freezing, and connection instability.
These have been complaints since launch, and many argue that major content drops shouldn’t arrive before core issues are resolved.
Community Is Split
To be fair, not everyone is angry.
Some players are calling Cyberstan the hardest but most fun content yet (it’s a skill issue!). They argue the chaos fits the Galactic War narrative and that Helldivers has always been about overwhelming odds.
But for others, the frustration outweighs the fun.
Right now, the update feels polarizing. For some, it’s peak Helldivers. For others, it’s frustrating as heck and borderline not worth playing.
If Arrowhead responds quickly with balance patches, the tone could shift fast (Vox Engines need to be nerfed!).
(Note: I’m level 150 and only play on difficulty 10)
