Helldivers 2 thrives because of its devoted and tight community. But lately, the community split after the game’s Steam rating slipped from “Very Positive” to “Mixed.”
The change came after frustration during a critical mission to defend Equality-on-Sea, not just from general dissatisfaction. This Mega City is based in Shanghai and shows both player effort and disappointment.
The defense was pushed to 99.9783 percent, but players were unable to fully reclaim the city, causing backlash, particularly from Chinese players who felt their work was ignored.
What many didn’t realize was that the game’s liberation system isn’t just about percentages. The city can only be saved by defeating the entire attacking fleet, but this wasn’t clearly shown, especially in the Chinese translation.
That misunderstanding spiraled quickly, leading to thousands of angry reviews accusing Arrowhead of scripting the Galactic War rather than letting player choices decide the outcome. Steam’s algorithm reacted fast to the negative feedback, dragging Helldivers 2’s recent reviews down.
How Is the Community Responding to the Backlash?
In response, fans who still love the game have taken action themselves, launching a community effort called “Operation: Restore Democracy.”
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+ 3Glitch Unlimited heads the movement urging players to share truthful positive opinions of Helldivers 2 on Steam. Glitch even pledged a giveaway and a charity donation if the rating returns to “Positive” by June 31.
Some feared this could violate Steam’s review rules, but Glitch made it clear nobody is being told to lie; the goal is just to highlight what the game does well.
What Major Update Recently Launched Before the Review Bombing?
The timing was almost too perfect since Helldivers 2 just launched its “Heart of Democracy” update, which got great feedback and increased players by more than 50%.
click to enlarge+ 3But the goodwill from that update was quickly overshadowed by the Equality-on-Sea fallout. Many of the negative reviews were tied directly to the city’s failure, even though the gameplay remained as polished and chaotic as ever.
Despite the dip in recent ratings, Helldivers 2 still maintains a “Mostly Positive” rating when looking at its overall Steam history. It means the heart of the game is intact, even if it’s struggling right now.
If the surge of fresh positive reviews from Operation: Restore Democracy continues, the game might just bounce back. New reviews are pushing back against the negativity by pointing out misunderstandings and praising the game’s mechanics, community features, and war table storytelling.
Have Helldivers 2 Fans Rallied Like This Before?
Yes, this isn’t the first time fans of Helldivers 2 have rallied to safeguard the game.
click to enlarge+ 3During the PSN account-linking issue, enough pressure from the community caused the developers to reverse their decision. Organized and vocal fans showed they can change a game’s direction both inside and outside Galactic War.
There are still weeks before Glitch Unlimited’s June 31 target, and fans are giving one last big push to save the Steam rating. Whether it works or not, what stands out is the sense of community Helldivers 2 has built.
Even with mistakes and frustration, players stay committed not only to win but to support the game they believe in.
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