Helldivers 2 became one of gaming’s biggest surprises because players did not just play it. They turned it into a culture.

* Note: This interview was filmed in 2025, so some information may have changed since recording.

In this episode of Main Quest, Eddy sits down with Colebrew, a Helldivers 2 content creator and meme maker, to explore how Arrowhead’s co-op shooter became a community-driven phenomenon. The conversation digs into the memes, roleplay, friendly fire, Super Earth propaganda, and unpredictable “cinematic chaos” that made the game feel different from so many modern live service shooters.

Colebrew shares how Helldivers 2 helped his content take off, why the game feels like a throwback to playing Left 4 Dead or Call of Duty Zombies with friends, and how the community helped shape the game’s identity through jokes like “face the wall,” John Helldiver, and endless Super Earth roleplay.

The episode also opens up into a bigger conversation about modern gaming, including monetization, IP crossovers, the Xbox players joining the fight, the 60-day patch, boss battles, ODST-style armor, and why players are responding so strongly to games that feel fun, chaotic, and authentic.

Chapters:

00:00 - The Most Chaotic Helldivers 2 Extraction01:15 - How Colebrew Became a Helldivers 2 Meme Creator03:20 - Why Helldivers 2 Feels Like Playing With the Boys Again05:42 - Cinematic Chaos and the Meme Culture Behind Helldivers 207:25 - Face the Wall, John Helldiver, and Super Earth Roleplay10:25 - Crossovers, and Avoiding the Fortnite Problem16:05 - Monetization, Horse Armor, and Why Helldivers 2 Feels Fair22:00 - The 60-Day Patch That Changed Helldivers 233:20 - Why Smaller Games Are Winning Players Back44:20 - Colebrew’s Theory About Helldivers and Clones53:00 - One of the Funniest Failed Extractions Yet