- Primary Subject: Helldivers 2 (PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S - Update 6.0.3)
- Key Update: The "Machinery of Oppression" update launched on February 10, 2026, officially bringing the Cyborg Legion back as a major threat in the battle for Cyberstan.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: February 11, 2026
- Quick Answer: While Helldivers 2 just added Cyborgs and factory cities, Arrowhead has not announced naval warfare, focusing instead on expanding ground-based vehicle and meta-narrative depth.
Since its release in 2024, Helldivers 2 has seen many updates that have increased the amount of content players can enjoy. With news like the Cyborgs making a grand return soon, it's clear that Arrowhead Game Studios plans to continue giving its game support for a long time.
There's already so much to have fun with, what with all the enemies to take on and equipment to unlock and use, and knowing that there's even more to look forward to makes me feel blessed as a fan. However, while the game feels like it already has a little bit of everything, I believe it's still missing something that could elevate the gameplay to even greater heights: naval warfare.
Helldivers 2 has already shown it's capable of providing players with excellent ground combat, and Arrowhead Game Studio can only go so far in improving it. That being the case, it's reasonable to ask why the developer shouldn't set its next focus on aerial warfare instead, given that the game has already laid the groundwork for that potential with enemies like the Automaton Gunship, Terminid Shrieker, Illuminate Stingrays, etc.
And while that makes sense, prioritizing naval warfare's inclusion would still be far better, as it has more potential to improve the overall quality of Helldivers 2 than aerial combat. One reason is that fights taking place at sea allow for even more types of planets.
The current galaxy you're fighting in already has diverse and beautiful environments to gawk at and appreciate, but that can be taken up a notch with battles within bodies of water. Planets composed entirely of, or mostly, water have the potential to provide stunning visuals and atmosphere.
Imagine being in a place full of corals and sea life that makes you feel at peace despite the fighting, or one packed with seaweed and barely any light that makes you feel more anxious than normal. Wouldn't areas like that be great to look forward to?
If that reason isn't convincing enough to make you want the game to have naval warfare, the next one, about how it could create more interesting and exciting gameplay, might be. If fights were to take place below or on the surface of the water, it would make your character more difficult to control.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing and can even make fights more intense, as the sluggish movement of naval warfare makes it feel like you're in a constant vulnerable state, making you more engaged in the process. Also, if you're submerged in the depths of any body of water, it means threats can come from literally any direction that you have to be alert to, raising the tension further in a game that's already full of intense moments.
All that already sounds great, but there's still more that the inclusion of naval warfare can do for Helldivers 2. If the game had it, then it would mean more equipment for Arrowhead Game Studios to develop and players to enjoy.
If you're fighting in water, equipment meant for land operations likely won't be as effective. This provides the perfect opportunity to include things like submarines, ships, torpedoes, electrified nets, and other weapons and vehicles that players would want to control.
Also, with the types of equipment that could be added due to naval warfare, it provides Arrowhead Game Studios with more opportunities to create Warbonds. This can prolong Helldivers 2's lifespan, ensuring it becomes a game that many can still enjoy even in the distant future.
Speaking of which, the inclusion of naval warfare can also result in a piece of content that gives people more reason to continue supporting it: a new race to fight. With combat taking place in the water, it would only make sense that there would be enemies designed specifically for it.
This can be anything from an organized group of alien sea warriors or viciously unpredictable underwater abominations. Regardless of what it could be, the inclusion of a new race is always a good thing, as it gives players something to fight besides the usual enemies they've taken on numerous times. Increasing the number of combat options provides more incentive to keep playing the game, further ensuring that it stays alive for years to come.
With all that said, it raises the question of why Arrowhead Game Studios has not included naval warfare in Helldivers 2 to this day. Given all of the different benefits that can be gained from its inclusion, it seems like a wasted opportunity that its implementation still hasn't happened.
The game seems to have many more years of support in store for it, so there's a good chance naval warfare will be added at some point. For now, I'm hoping it happens sooner rather than later, because I believe that when that update comes, Helldivers 2 will become the ultimate single-player and multiplayer game experience.
For more like this, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for gaming features and opinions.