You know your movie, TV show, or video game has made it when people start making fanfiction out of it. While some forms of this fiction are deep and meaningful, action video games have their own trope based on the protagonist doing something cool. John Halo, John Warhammer, and many such Johns are a result of this trope.
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Helldivers 2 is not a dead game, so stop calling it that
We need to stop using the term for games that simply don't deserve it.
So when you see a Helldivers 2 clip of a player doing something like taking out a Bile Titan by rocket hopping on it and calling in a 500kg bomb on its head, it's none other than John Helldiver. It's a funny little term used by fans when they see players doing something cool. Now it turns out that John Helldiver is canon.
The legendary Helldiver is real
Arrowhead's 60-day patch schedule has finally come to an end, overhauling the game's weapons and strategies to players' delight. While the main focus of the patch was weapons like the P-4 Senator and Breaker, the patch note for the removal of the Automaton Hulk's newly introduced cannon had a fun little story.
“In response to their disapproval of a newly installed cannon on the Automaton Hulk Bruisers, Super Earth High Command sent a crack command to sabotage their production facilities,” the patch note read. “The skilled operator immediately fled into the shadows after completing his mission. Today, still wanted by the automatons, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, you might can recruit… John Helldiver”
Despite the initial jitters that drove many players away, Arrowhead has engaged the community very well, incorporating popular memes and fan-favorite instances into its communications. With these few lines, the developers have once again shown how familiar they are with society.
A commando single-handedly infiltrating an Automaton stronghold to permanently cripple their production seems almost impossible, but it's all in a day's work for John Helldiver. So the next time you see an unknown teammate pull off an amazing series of moves, it might just be the legendary soldier of fortune.
There also appears to be another cheeky reference, this time to the recently released Silent Hill 2 remake. “General Brasch returns from holiday retreat in a foggy hillside town,” says the patch note.
The latest update has inspired former Helldivers to re-enlist for the cause. After the first fall, the number of players for the game almost tripled. It turns out that if you players don't like it if you take away their favorite weapon – a lesson Arrowhead seems to have learned.
Helldivers 2
Galaxy's last offensive line. Join Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frenetic and brutal third-person shooter. Helldivers 2 features Arrowhead's best co-op game to date. Collaboration will be key: Teams will collaborate on loadouts, strategize their strategy for each mission, and complete objectives together.