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Arrowhead’s PvE squad-based shooter Helldivers 2 is one of the major success stories of 2024, with millions of PlayStation 5 and PC gamers opting to don the cape of humanity's finest to defend managed democracy and hold back the tide of bugs and robots seeking to sweep Super Earth away.
The game's overwhelming popularity has understandably left some Xbox players with a deep sense of FOMO, with Phil Spencer himself questioning the wisdom of keeping the multiplayer phenomenon as a PlayStation exclusive. While Arrowhead’s hit game doesn’t look like its coming to Microsoft consoles anytime soon, Xbox owners may soon have the opportunity to experience the next best thing, courtesy of the ‘Helljumpers’ Halo Infinite project, which is currently under development by a small team of creators known as The Forge Falcons.
As spotted by Windows Central, this Helldivers-esque experience is currently being developed using Halo Infinite's Forge level editor, which allows the community to create bespoke content featuring a wide range of assets and AI enemies. The Forge Falcon’s Helljumpers project looks set to be a PvE experience consisting of eight semi-scripted engagements, during which players will drop into a map and strive to complete a range of main missions and procedurally generated side objectives while facing off against AI enemies, bosses, and dynamic events. Also we're awarding double points for the name, a riff of Arrowhead's title while simultaniously referencing the informal name given to ODST soldiers.
Helljumpers | Reveal Trailer
This is your first look at the map for *Helljumpers*. This map is NOT final and is expected to receive new additions, changes, lighting changes and balances throughout the development cycle.
Helljumpers will launch in June, we are aiming for early… pic.twitter.com/RE5hhIykAQ
— The Forge Falcons (@TheForgeFalcons) April 30, 2024
Along the way the player will be able to call on strategums – such as a 'Mac Blast' strike, kinetic airstrike, and orbital laser – similar to those used in Helldivers 2. These, along with your gear, can be upgraded between missions. However, we aren't yet sure exactly how these will be called in as the Forge UI toolset doesn't allow for the directional code-based input system featured in Helldivers 2. According to the developers, each mission will be progressively harder, with every upgrade and objective completed during the campaign counting towards an as of yet undefined endgame experience.
“We wanted to make an endgame for Helljumpers so the end isn't just 'death' but more so an actual end to the experience that's way more in-line with a campaign that feels satisfying, rewarding and most importantly is fun through and through,” read an April 20 X post from the group, teasing the campaign.
The team estimates that Helljumpers will take around two to three hours to complete for players who are largely focussing on the main objectives, or roughly five hours for those looking to take on all of the optional content. The Forge Falcons recently gave supporters a brief glimpse of the urban environment in which the campaign will be fought, while noting that the pre-alpha version of the map is liable to benefit from lighting changes, balancing improvements, and other additions over the course of the development process.
The Forge Falcons are currently aiming to release their Helldivers tribute in early June, but have warned that this preliminary window could be pushed back by “a few more weeks” to make for a smoother launch. Prior to that, the developers are planning to drop a full gameplay trailer in May.
For more Halo content why not check out our Halo Infinite Forge Guide, or read up on how one user recreated a scene from Hideo Kojima’s horror title P.T. in Halo Infinite with the help of the game's versatile creation tools.
Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer
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