The successful PlayStation exclusive Helldivers will now get a PC port this December through Steam. Crossbuy and crossplay will be available for PlayStation systems but not for PC to PlayStation.
Arrowhead Game Studios announced that their game will get a Steam release next month. According to Game Informer, "The PC version comes with all three free expansions, which include the recently released Democracy Strikes Back. Additional DLC will be up for purchase as well."
Arrowhead decided to port the game to the PC because they want more players to experience the Helldivers universe. Helldivers was previously released for the PS Vita, PS3, and PS4. The game got excellent reviews from IGN (9/10), Destructoid (9/10), and Playstation Universe (9/10).
The game is played similar to the 90's dual-stick shooter Crimson Land but with modern aesthetics. The basic gameplay of both games is similar from the top-down perspective, character movements, and the frenetic pace. The distinct advantage of this game (aside from graphics) against Crimson Land is the online and local multiplayer capability. In addition, Helldivers has both online co-op and local co-op.
Helldivers is a dual-stick shooter in the tradition of Geometry Wars. The release of Geometry Wars in XBLA revived and popularized the twin-stick shooting gameplay that Helldivers adhere to. The basic mechanic of the game is to drop the overmatched protagonists in a swarm of enemies. There are victory conditions like eliminating all enemies before proceeding to the next level. All that can be accomplished using power-ups that can be picked while clearing the board.
PC gamers are wary about the fidelity and responsiveness of the controls with every PC port. That said, the Steam release will have controller support. In a Gameranx article, Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt stated, "We have done our very best to ensure that the game will feel as good as possible when played on PC. With a wide range of graphic options, rebindable keys and an added text chat, we hope that we will meet the expectations which players have of a PC title."
System requirements for the game is not that prohibitive. PC gamers will only need a Windows machine (Vista and above) with a minimum of 4 GB RAM, 2.4GHz Dual Core processor, and a fairly modern 512 MB ATI or NVIDIA graphics card.
The Helldivers Steam page says it will be available December 2015. The page did not contain any price or pre-order information, but you can follow the game page or add the game to your wishlist right now. Arrowhead will announce more information about the Steam release soon.
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