This Helldivers 2 fan created his own lore news broadcast to bolster morale and spread democracy

Information can be hard to come by in Helldivers 2. Most of the game’s storytelling is done through communications from Super Earth in the form of Major Order missions and updates on the galaxy map. If you miss a few Major Orders while you’re at work or making dinner, you might fall behind on the evolving lore of the game, like the big cloud of spores fermenting on the Terminid front, or the unprecedented construction of a new Democracy station for better coordination. One Helldivers 2 fan who goes by GoMan has taken it upon himself to keep the player base up to date with an in-character news broadcast posted to YouTube.

There are occasional Strohmann News broadcasts that play on the player’s ship, but they don’t cover everything — and the reporter doesn’t have the first-person perspective of a Helldiver. GoMan’s Galactic Frontline News, however, is a tongue-in-cheek propaganda broadcast that also shares important information with fellow players. GoMan started playing Helldivers 2 to enjoy Starship Troopers and Terminator-style vibes, but he quickly got the itch to do a creative project. 

“I saw people on Reddit complaining about being stuck at work or being unable to jump on and missing things like the whole Meridia planet black hole explosion … or implosion, I guess,” said GoMan in a chat with Polygon over Discord. “I figured with the live service nature of the game, I’d always have lots of content to work with, an ever changing battlefield.”

GoMan weaves out-of-game controversies like the Sony account linking debacle into his broadcasts, discussing their impact on the player base from an in-character perspective. For instance, regarding a big balance patch from the devs, a commentator remarks: “Let’s take a moment to commend Arrowhead Defense Systems. After facing some tough criticism in the past, they’ve delivered a truly impactful patch on Sept. 17 and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Our arsenal has been attacked, our tactics refined, and for that, Arrowhead, we thank you.”

The satirical tone, as well as an enthusiastic fanbase that tends to buy into the lore, is a huge part of what makes Helldivers 2 so special, and it’s cool to see how the universe has inspired fans like GoMan to make their own creative works. Galactic Frontline News also takes the time to call out impressive fanart or comical clips highlighting “disgraceful content” set to circus music. 

Galactic Frontline News is staffed with an array of characters, introduced in this fun Cowboy Bebop-inspired montage. While the Helldivers are always on the front lines, Super Earth is composed of many other departments: the armed forces, scientists, factory workers, and sometimes even sick children. Projects like Galactic Frontline News help explore the greater universe of Helldivers, offering a sense of the broader galaxy and its conflicts.

Even when I’m not actively playing Helldivers 2 and enjoying other shooters, I enjoy keeping up with the story. Doing so through a fan broadcast is a great way to see how other players feel about new content. While the tone is tongue-in-cheek, the project is clearly born of passion, and it’s a fun way to see a familiar game through fresh eyes.