Developer Arrowhead Studios delivered a new Major Order to Helldivers 2 players, giving them a 24-hour window to finally take back Malevelon Creek. The planet was liberated in only about five hours.
The game-wide mission was sent across the galaxy today, and it didn’t take fans long to suit up and drop in. It’s an order that presented an opportunity to turn the tide of war against one of Super Earth’s greatest enemies, but it also gave fans a chance to reclaim their pride.
“Several weeks ago, our citizens watched in horror as Malevelon Creek fell to the Automatons,” the Major Order commanded. “Millions of valiant heroes perished attempting to defend it. For too long, the bots have maintained their illegal occupation, desecrating the memory of the fallen by rapidly depleting the planet’s exceptionally rich rhodium deposits. The travesty will be allowed to continue no longer.”
It continues: “Take vengeance for the fallen. Honor our heroes. End the theft of valuable minerals. Liberate Malevelon.”
For those who have yet to Helldive onto Malevelon Creek’s misty terrain, you should know that it’s covered with cold Automaton warriors that are armed to the teeth. With robot soldier camps polluting nearly every hill and plant life littered across the battlefield, the location provides players with a significant challenge – especially on higher difficulties.
It’s this same low-visibility environment that dealt Helldivers 2 fans their most significant failed Major Order to date. The previous mission arrived several weeks ago and asked soldiers to take the location and leave no prisoners. They were unsuccessful, though, with Helldivers unable to liberate Malevelon Creek within the time limit. The mission was such a disappointing endeavor that fans still post “remember Malevelon Creek” memes, as if they suffered a lost battle in the real world. When Arrowhead offered a chance at redemption, they made every second count.
“At long last, Malevelon Creek is free,” a celebratory in-game message says. “The heroes who died in its defense can finally rest in peace, knowing justice has been served, and the planet’s rhodium deposits will be mined by the citizens who rightfully own them. Colonists are returning to the ruins of their settlements, pickaxes in hand, hopeful for a prosperous future. For at last, dawn breaks upon a free Creek.”
Despite victory over Malevelon Creek, Helldivers were not rewarded the 35 Medals they were initially promised as a reward. Instead, the Major Order has been updated, asking players to now shift their focus to Ubanea for a reward of 40 Medals. They’ll need to then hold their ground until the order ends in two and a half days to finally claim what could be a significant win over the Automatons.
As Helldivers 2 players pivot to maintain control over the Severin Sector, Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt is looking to take a new approach to the galactic war that could give fans a more rewarding experience. One thing players have wanted more clarity on is how Supply Lines work in-game. Many players may not even be aware that they are a feature that essentially allows Helldivers to strategize and keep enemy reinforcements from crashing a party.
The problem is that many feel Supply Lines aren’t clearly communicated in Helldivers 2. The @HelldiversAlert X/Twitter account spotted a fan-made solution from Reddit user TheKrzysiek that shows how the feature could be updated.
A Simple concept of what supply lines could look like in game
— Helldivers Alerts (@HelldiversAlert) March 31, 2024
?Thekrzysiek pic.twitter.com/Jfr1JW7Eh0
It was well received amongst followers on social media, including Pilestedt himself. The creative director even went as far as to say that TheKrzysiek’s demo isn’t far off from a previous Arrowhead idea.
“It is surprisingly close to what we had in the game before,” he said in a post. “But we wanted to visualize all of the supply lines and it got way too cluttered. We are talking about making this more clear internally at the studio.”
It’s unclear how Major Orders will unfold in the future, but it’s clear Arrowhead is working around the clock to keep players on their toes. As the latest Major Order rolls on, be sure to read up on on our review, where we gave the game a 9/10. At the time, we said, "Helldivers 2's combat feels fantastic, its missions stay fresh and interesting, and its smart progression system doesn’t nickel and dime you."
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
