Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
Since the game’s initial launch in February, there have been a host of changes made to better balance the experience. These have primarily come in the form of weapon nerfs and buffs, and many of the decisions have been appreciated with some contested by the Helldivers 2 community. One of the most contested changes has been the removal of the Eruptor shrapnel, and the Helldivers 2 community manager has provided an update on if the shrapnel aoe will come back to the Eruptor.
Arrowhead are set to take a summer break, but they have reassured fans that the game will not be completely abandoned. Unfortunately, although the summer break is good for the developers, it’s coming at the worst time for the game as it has lost over 90% of its player base. The drop in players is disappointing, but the numbers should surge again when the Illuminate eventually arrive.
While we’re eagerly awaiting the debut of the Illuminate, many fans have simply been praying for the shrapnel to come back to the Eruptor. A return is not guaranteed, but the Helldivers 2 community manager has suggested it could happen.
Helldivers 2 dev gives update on Eruptor shrapnel
On the series’ official Discord, Twinbeard was asked if the Eruptor is getting its aoe back, to which the Helldivers 2 community manager provided the following response:
“I don’t know. As you probably know, shrapnel/aoe was taken away due to the Eruptor causing too dmg and being unpredictable. We know a lot would want shrapnel/aoe back but in a smaller scale, and we might revisit that, but if so it won’t be until after summer most likely, due to vacation and more pressing matters.”
Shrapnel was removed from the Eruptor at the beginning of May in update 01.000.300. This was the notorious update that many remember for the issues with ricocheting. The Eruptor shrapnel was identified as the root cause of the problem on Reddit, and was thus removed.
While the removal was understandable to fix the ricocheting dilemma, many fans have since pleaded for Arrowhead to revert the shrapnel removal from the Eruptor. There are numerous posts on Reddit complaining about how the weapon was significantly nerfed and how “this gun without shrapnel struggles to kill even one stalker”.
Fans believe it should return to being the high risk, high reward weapon it originally was as that made it fun and powerful. Yes, it could kill the player or their teammates accidentally, but it was great at killing everything really fast hence the high risk, high reward.
Unfortunately, Twinbeard’s response doesn’t guarantee that it will come back. It’s purely a “might” as of writing, and, even if it does come back, it won’t happen “until after summer most likely”.
For more Helldivers 2, here is a guide to cheats along with guides to the best stratagems tier list and best weapons.
