u/Mental_Following_766

two new vehicles? both "variations on existing gear", this was for sure supposed to be a future warbond

The current state of helldivers 2’s monetization is unsatisfactory and actively syphons development time away from more meaningful changes that the game desperately needs. This document will provide a suggested full overhaul to monetization, which will probably increase revenue generated and create meaningful progression.

Armor customization:

Most games with a profitable live service monetization system sell the player item to customize their appearance, “drip-factor” already factors into the sale of warbonds today. However having a passive tied to each armor significantly impacts whether players want a certain armor. Each and every warbond since viper commandos has come with a new and unique armor passive, the sheer development time is a massive investment in an outdated system. 

Letting players choose which armor passive they want to equip and then separately their armor of choice would let future releases of armor be independent from passives, passives could be released separately with future updates. These passives should be unlockable with requisition, not super credits. Some future armor sets could be sold in the super store.

Additionally letting players choose their armor pattern would give an additional layer of customization. These passive could be sold either for requisition, super credits or through certain challenges. Having specific patterns be tied to difficult challenges, for example: ”kill 10 hive lords”, gives players something to grind for and a sense of achievement, the best example of this is how halo 3 locked specific helmets behind campaign challenges. Since this is a live service game some patterns could be sold in the store. The capes should work in the same way.

In case that isn't enough, I propose the addition of armor and helmet attachements. These should again be sold for requisition, super credits or be unlockable via a challenge. With these additions customization and therefore progression would expand substantially.

Monetization:

As stated previously, most modern live service games keep the lights on by selling cosmetics, Helldivers 2 should mimic this. With all the new additions to armor customization provided above there should be enough items to drive a substantial profit.

Warbond release frequency would be drastically reduced, so more emphasis can be placed on other updates, so trust can be rebuilt. A happy playerbase is more likely to spend money on a game they love. 

Warbond token should be awarded at set level goals or again earned through challenges, while retaining the ability to buy them with super credits. The weapons currently in the super store should instead be locked behind again either requisition or challenges.

With the overall decrease in the cost of items in the super store and super credits no longer being the only way to access warbond gear they should no longer spawn and be treated like any other premium currency.