Helldivers 2's new bad weather patch quietly adds huge AT-AT-like deathbots

It's update day for Helldivers 2, and – as detailed in its patch notes – the flagship new addition is terrible, awful weather befitting of battling across planetary hellscapes. However – as not detailed in its patch notes – it's apparently sneakily added a huge AT-AT-like robot enemy too.

Starting with the stuff developer Arrowhead Game Studios isn't Being shy about, today's Helldivers 2 patch – officially known as update 01.000.200 – introduced a couple of new weather hazards in the form of blizzards and sandstorms. And no, there's not much to say about these other than, maybe, good luck out there.

Angry planetary weather arrives alongside a level cap increase from 50 to 150, and there's an extensive bit of gameplay balancing too. This touches on everything from mission structure – Destroy Command Bunkers now has more objectives because it was “too easy” previously, for instance – to weapon tweaks and enemy balancing, and you'll find full patch notes below.

que isn't detailed in today's patch notes, however, is those mentioned big stompy robots. As is Arrowhead's deliciously sneaky way when it comes to Helldivers 2, players – as documented in over on the game's subreddit – are reporting an increasing number of sightings of a beefy new threat.

This unheralded new Helldivers 2 Automaton, apparently known as a Factory Strider, is said to be armed with a cannon and laser mini-guns, and can spawn Devastators beneath it. “It is one heavy boy with no easy to find winds”, said CappedPluto. Sethoman, addressing the beefiness of this beefiest of foes, added, “The damn thing took a rail orbital to the face without losing stride. It's one tough motherfucker AND IT SPAWNS AT EXTRACTION.”

But that's not everything quietly slipped Helldivers 2's latest update. Following the addition of winged bugs last months, players are now reporting flying Automatons have taken to the skies. “They are heavily armored flying rocket devastators with a regular devastator strapped to the other side,” wrote Jackpkmn. “They fire salvos of missiles and rapid fire lasers otherwise.”

So there you go; the fight for democracy wages on, and the robots are getting serious.