Helldivers 2 creative boss agrees the game has gotten less about "a fun, chaotic, challenging, emergent experience" and too much about "challenge and competitiveness"

Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom.

Helldivers 2's creative director has responded to players, agreeing that the shooter has unfortunately become less about "a fun, chaotic, challenging, emergent experience" and more about "competitiveness." 

Just recently, a Helldivers 2 subreddit post showed what appeared to be Automaton lasers being slowed down by bushes. Yes, you read that right – the local fauna can actually slow down laser beams while they're in mid-air. Helldivers 2 creative director Johan Pilestedt responded to the video in a lengthy message, thanking the player for their feedback.