Helldivers 2 Devs Tease Return of Classic Vehicles — This War Is Just Getting Started

Helldivers 2 has never been shy about chaos, and the devs keep tossing us new toys to make bigger, louder messes. One gap players keep pointing at: vehicles. Mechs, transports, all the chunky stuff that makes you feel like a tiny god in a tin can. Turns out Arrowhead hears it, and they’re already poking at ways to beef up the vehicle side of the game.

Arrowhead says more vehicles are on the table

In a newly released studio chat, 'A Democratic Conversation' with Design Director Niklas Malmborg, the topic of vehicles came up in a candid way. He acknowledged what players have been asking for and hinted at a return to some of the first game’s fan-favorite machines.

"So, we have plans. Uh, we are looking at extending the vehicle game play like people remember from playing the first game, we had loads of more vehicles."

He didn’t name specific vehicles or timelines, and he wasn’t making promises. But he did keep the door open to bringing a few old friends back, and broadening what vehicles can actually do in Helldivers 2.

"Not saying we necessarily will bring back all of them but you know it would be fun to bring back some of them and uh kind of extend how much you can do with vehicles."

How vehicles work now (and why)

Malmborg also explained the current philosophy: in Helldivers 2, vehicles are strong but disposable. You should fully expect your mech to run out of ammo or get wrecked before the mission ends. That’s by design. The game’s economy leans on scarcity and quick decisions, so you’re constantly weighing whether to nurse a battered machine along or spend resources and cooldowns to call in a replacement.

What this means going forward

Arrowhead is actively experimenting with ways to expand vehicle gameplay, and they’re paying close attention to how players use the tools they’ve got and where friction builds up. The goal is to add depth without sanding down the game’s identity. That careful, iterative mindset isn’t just about vehicles either; it touches balancing, design clarity, and the overall feel of the game.

• Vehicles today: powerful, temporary, and meant to burn out before the mission wraps.
• The team is exploring expanded vehicle gameplay, with a nod to the first game’s larger lineup.
• Some older vehicles could return, but not all, and nothing specific is promised yet.
• Any changes need to fit Helldivers 2’s resource-driven, high-chaos loop.
• Arrowhead is watching player behavior closely and tuning systems like balance and clarity along the way.

Bottom line: the game’s evolving, and bigger, heavier rides might be part of that evolution. Just keep expectations realistic. Even if more machines roll in, the core idea probably won’t change: in Helldivers 2, hardware is there to be used up, blown up, and replaced. That’s half the fun.