Helldivers 2 players have successfully emancipated the Emancipator mech from the automaton assembly line, and of course the dual-autocannon exosuit has triggered another debate about balance

Helldivers 2's community has once again liberated a new vehicle stratagem from the tin-can clutches of the automatons, wresting control of the robot Petafactory on the planet Varylia 5 and converting it to produce Emancipator exosuits. This new mech comes in a fetching yellow paint job, and is armed with twin autocannons perfect for pulverizing the enemies of Managed Democracy into mulch.

At least, that's how Arrowhead Game Studios probably hoped players would feel. But the Emancipator has instead proved somewhat divisive. There's been a lot of heated debate about balance in Helldivers 2 recently, as more weapons and stratagems are added to the game. Admittedly, developer Arrowhead hasn't helped the situation, constantly tweaking weapons and equipment players are having fun with for fear of it being overpowered.

The arrival of the Emancipator triggered yet another debate about balance, with some sectors of the community feeling that the new mech is both too easily destroyed and too weedy in its damage output. One user, fittingly named Dushnila_complainer, listed multiple issues, claiming the Exosuit's autocannons are weaker than the sentry autocannons, and bemoaning its limited uses compared to that same sentry. There's also discontent surrounding how much damage the Emancipator does against Bile Titans, the building-sized Terminids that vomit hot green death from on high.

Varylia 5 has been liberated!Today marks a day of celebration as the newly acquired Emancipator Exosuit is immediately rushed out for distribution to all Helldivers. pic.twitter.com/dAxmuSSciyMay 26, 2024

However, there are an equal if not greater number of posts on the Helldivers subreddit retorting that the Emancipator is Fine, Actually, and the real problem with the game at the moment is not its balance, but the constant moaning about it. «This whole sub is crazy with the balancing stuff imo,» said user greatnailsageyoda, while Reactiveisland5 stated «wondering if my Emancipators came different