Although the original game had a dedicated following, Helldivers 2 significantly surpassed its predecessor, attracting over 300,000 players on Steam within a month of release. This remarkable feat sparked extensive online discussions among gamers, with the game's live-service model proving successful through additions like community-unlocked mechs. However, as is common with immensely popular games, Helldivers 2 is grappling with a significant issue - a potential Twitch embedding problem.

Embedding content on Twitch is a contentious topic due to concerns about viewbotting. While embedding is allowed by Twitch's terms of service, its misuse can artificially inflate view counts, a situation that appears to be affecting Helldivers 2. Renowned content creator Gothalion recently highlighted a Twitch user dominating the Helldivers 2 directory by continuously embedding gameplay, raising concerns for both the game and its community.

The Challenge of Twitch Embedding for Helldivers 2

Examining the Issues and Differences from Viewbotting

One key problem with embedding is that even with good intentions, such as directing viewers to a streaming channel by embedding past streams on a website, it creates a misleading impression. When a channel is embedded, it may appear active with numerous viewers, yet the chat and stream are actually inactive. This discrepancy can mislead viewers searching for Helldivers 2 content, potentially diverting them from genuine live streams and active communities.

In the case of Helldivers 2, a single user with thousands of viewers tops the directory, creating two issues. Firstly, viewers seeking Helldivers 2 content may encounter this channel first, only to find an empty chat and no live stream. This diverts attention from authentic creators, harming the game's community and content promotion.

The Detrimental Impact of Twitch Embedding on Helldivers 2

Community Focus Compromised by Twitch Embedding

The Twitch streamer embedding Helldivers 2 content continuously, despite lagging behind in progress, presents a significant challenge. For instance, the streamer's level in Helldivers 2 remains below the cap of 50, despite streaming around the clock. Moreover, the archived content showcases outdated patches, failing to align with the current game experience.

This situation undermines Helldivers 2's community-oriented gameplay, which relies on collective objectives and gameplay. Continuous Twitch embedding disrupts community engagement, with empty chats and outdated content detracting from the game's current state. Until Twitch revises its embedding policies to exclude artificially gained viewers from directories and live streams, Helldivers 2 may continue to grapple with this issue.