Customization is and always will be a prevailing discussion as long asHelldivers 2’s live-service efforts in the Galactic War are ongoing.Helldivers 2has never had poor customization when it comes to players’ democracy-loving avatars, and player expression has been honored with tons of emotes, victory poses, and even color palettes for the shuttle, Hellpods, and Exosuits. Customization is also available within players’ ships, but not nearly to the same degree. Ship module progression is currently the only customization players can toy with in the outer space hub, and it might not be so easy to buff it out any further in a truly meaningful way.
Helldivers 2’s Ship Module Customization is Lying Dormant as a Backdrop
Between the Patriotic Administration Center, Orbital Cannons, Hangar, Bridge, Engineering Bay, and Robotics Workshop, there’s actually a lot of customization being applied to the ship that players might never acknowledge or register given its subtlety and insignificance in general. Plus, withHelldivers 2’s ship module upgradesbecoming astronomically costly as players progress through them, it’s likely only after a massive time sink that players will get to see the fruits of their labor represented visually, and the difference might not always be as immediately noticeable.
Upgrading from theSuperior Packing Methodologyto thePayroll Management Systemin the Patriotic Administration Center is certainly a huge change given its workspace expansion adding more real estate to the ship. Likewise, the visual difference in upgrading from the spacious and deflatingLiquid-Ventilated Cockpitto the abundantly stockpiledAdvanced Crew Trainingmodule in the Hangar is unmistakable.
TheOrbital Cannons ship modulecustomization being represented is a neat touch, too, since it demonstrates thatHelldivers 2doesn’t neglect the ship’s exterior and players can observe these upgrades as they peer out from the flight deck’s viewport. That said, intermittent upgrades such as the transition from theRapid Launch Systemto theCircuit Expansionin the Engineering Bay can be difficult to discern when the corner of the ship it occupies is so small to begin with and not much is done to give it a substantial visual overhaul.
It’s also disappointing that players can’t select a visual appearance from the upgrades they’ve unlocked, though sinceHelldivers 2lacks a transmog feature for gearit isn’t too surprising that one isn’t available for a piece of customization as futile as ship modules. Of course, it may be impractical to expect huge decorative alterations with each new ship module upgrade, and this style of progression is meant to reward players with a relatively drastic display as they complete each ship module branch.
Helldivers 2’s Ship Module Customization May Not Be So Easy to Improve
Color is probably one of the most striking ways that personal ship preferences could stand out, not unlike how shuttles, Hellpods, and Exosuits are colored depending on the host whom players accompany on a mission. Therefore, becauseHelldivers 2’s shuttle, Hellpods, and Exosuitshave been given colorway palette options, it wouldn’t be completely out of the realm of possibility to imagine the ship adorned in various coats of paint.
That said, it could be tough making interior palettes look as nice or natural as they do elsewhere, not to mention if such palettes would be applied to the entirety of the ship.
It would be great if additional ship exterior modules could provide unique customization, but while the Orbital Cannons upgrades are easily viewable it might be counterproductive to have exterior module customization that players only see during brief cutscenes. It could help expand customization optionsif whole appliances or areas of the ship were to be debuted inHelldivers 2, though that wouldn’t be a thoughtless effort and presumably require brand-new module branches to progress through as well, and that would take it far beyond mere ornamental customization.
