Helldivers 2 Players Are Heading Back To Defend Malevelon Creek

Well, never say Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead Studios doesn’t have a dark sense of nostalgia. One year removed from the infamous in-game liberation of Malevelon Creek, Helldivers 2 is sending its players back to the planet to hold it against surging Automaton forces.

After a recent Major Order failure, players were worried about a return to the Creek, as reports indicated the Automatons — pushing forward with their fiery new Incineration Corps — were targeting the Severin Sector. The sector, and Malevelon Creek in particular, was the center of one of Helldivers 2’s earliest and most notable collective moments in the game. Helldivers converged on the planet to try and keep the Creek under Super Earth control.

The combination of jungle terrain and extremely dangerous foes led to Malevelon Creek being dubbed things like “Robot Vietnam.” After the fight concluded and the Creek was securely under Helldiver control, Arrowhead released a special cape to commemorate the fight.

Well, over the weekend, a new Major Order confirmed Helldivers will be heading back to Malevelon Creek. The offensive, led by the Incineration Corps, is on its way, with Malevelon Creek as the target. Already, invasions and skirmishes are underway across the sector, with lines pushing towards the Creek.

Through the in-game briefing, Super Earth is urging its Helldivers to protect the resting place of many “Creekers” who fell in the push to free the planet. This is all to prevent the “greatest net desecration” of the upcoming Malevelon Creek Memorial Day.

Helldivers 2 players are, predictably, amped for this Major Order. Memes invoking everything from Starship Troopers to the Doom Slayer and, somehow, Delicious in Dungeon flooded the Helldivers subreddit. Those who experienced the Creek back then, with its swarms of bots and lasers filling the air, are geared up for round two.

New players who joined after the original fight for the Creek also seem eager to jump in and experience this particularly memorable locale. There’s a lot to be said for these communal efforts, where Helldivers start logging on and building towards big moments together. When it ties into the long-running story and a feeling of a shared experience in a universe, it can be really incredible.

Of course, concerns are already rising that Arrowhead hasn’t fully tipped its hand yet. One post notes that while the defensive efforts are going well and Malevelon Creek is currently safe, there are still five days left on the Major Order. Teams are working to target specific goals as the sector remains a hotbed for Automaton incursions. It’s fascinating to see it unfold in real-time, and will no doubt make this week an exciting one for Helldivers players as the war for the Creek picks up.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.