Helldivers 2 update 7.0 sends players into the Void and raises the level cap to 300

Arrowhead released Helldivers 2 update 7.0, Devoid of Liberty, on August 12, pushing the co-op shooter's war toward the Void — a region of Illuminate-held space whose planets have been warped by mutations that intensify the closer they sit to its centre. IGN published the full patch notes alongside the release.

Two new Illuminate enemies

The patch adds two mutated Illuminate units. The Crusher, in Arrowhead's description, “is on a deathmarch capable of regenerating while taking heavy damage and needs to be worn down quickly and consistently without a moment of pause.” The Wretch is “a relentless and nimble enemy that requires quick trigger fingers and focused aim,” able to dodge and leap at players while advancing, and to dismantle their weapons.

New missions send squads to destroy Illuminate spires and gateways, complete data reconnaissance and infiltrate Illuminate structures. Secondary objectives include eradicating Void mutations, extracting materials for research, and opening a second extraction zone on the map to evacuate a squad faster.

SEAF troops become allies

Super Earth Armed Forces NPCs return as a planet modifier. Dropships deliver SEAF squads into missions, each with a squad leader, a rifleman, a heavy weapon specialist and a medic able to stim wounded Helldivers, and the troops carry new equipment including stim pistols and heavy machine guns. They also respond to emotes, so they can shake hands, play rock, paper, scissors or return a hug — a detail GameSpot led its coverage with. The emote wheel itself expands from four slots to eight.

Level cap and balance changes

The Helldiver rank system now runs past level 150, with 15 new ranks and titles reaching level 300, each with its own icon; players who were capped out have their excess experience back-applied once the patch is installed.

Assisted reload was reworked so a Helldiver can assist as long as either the weapon's wielder or the reloader carries the correct backpack, a change Arrowhead made because the original version demanded too much coordination to see regular use. Heavy landing recovery animation was cut by around 40 percent, and stim inputs are now buffered briefly so a blocked press still fires once the action is allowed. Short magazine attachments and several anti-personnel sidearms received more starting and spare magazines, and the R-2124 Constitution gained a full stripper clip reload when its magazine is empty.

The same day brought the Helldivers 2 crossover with Warhammer 40,000, the Castellan's Creed Legendary Warbond.