Just days ago, Helldivers 2 players were issued a grim failure notice: the Automatons’ Incineration Corps has successfully seized territory from the citizens of Super Earth in the Severin Sector. You know what that means—Malevelon Creek is making a comeback. But are the Helldivers truly ready for it?

The Legend of Malevelon Creek

If you’re new to the chaos, let’s catch you up. The original Malevelon Creek mission went down in gaming history in 2024, becoming an instant legend thanks to its rich lore, devastating losses, and a meme explosion the likes of which the galaxy has never seen. The players were in it to win it, and it showed!

According to in-game lore, Malevelon Creek is a planet rich in Rhodium—an element even rarer than gold. Naturally, it became a high-priority location for Super Earth to secure. But the Automatons weren’t about to give it up without a fight. What followed was a brutal nine-week campaign of anger, destruction, and player in-fighting. Over 35% of the entire Corps was deployed, totaling more than 230,000 Helldivers—a record at the time. That’s a lot of boots on the ground and even more democracy raining from orbit.

A Glorious Democratic Disaster

The 2024 mission was ultimately a failure, with players unable to stop the spread of the Automatons within the sector. The legacy it left behind was a look into how a gaming community came together to fight against malevolent (see what I did there?) forces. But, where disaster strikes, blame is to follow. A group of players made it their mission to stay on Malevelon Creek as they enjoyed the combat of this part of the mission. They were called Creekers, and this group was a major source of contention for other players. Enough that other players in the Helldivers 2 game targeted them relentlessly, citing that they were one of the causes of the mission failing.

A target was painted on any Creekers back, especially if they were seen wearing a customized cape that signaled their Creeker status. It also didn’t help that a community manager posted this:

Another significant obstacle in our operations has been the ongoing support of expeditionary forces on Malevelon Creek…Malevelon Creek remains locked in a stalemate with an average 25% of our forces committed to its defense and eventual liberation, though success on Draupnir, Ubanea, and eventually Tibit seems unlikely with such a large contingent diverted elsewhere…

This sealing the deal for many to place blame on the crewers about the mission failure. Later, many would ask whether it was really an issue or not. A game is meant to the be played and enjoyed by however the player sees fit. And while it not good that the mission ending was a failure (ugh, my completionists soul!), it was ultimately a community event that was meant to be enjoyed by Helldivers players.

Round 2? Oh Great Liberty!

Now, round 2 is starting. The mission notice was sent out that the Severin Sector is seeing an increase in Automatons conflicts. Helldivers are called back to Malevelon Creek to defend and hold once more, to take back all territory and resources that were taken from us. But what will that mean for the community that had such a large reaction to the first mission order? Players are split, with some excited about the chance to complete the mission again and others worried about how players will react if a situation like before starts up again.

Final Thoughts

This one is a toss-up. We finally get a continuation of a mission that held our attention for so long in 2024. Malevolen Creek became a legend within the gaming community, a mission that brought us all together with scary efficiency. It might also lead to another Creeker incident where, if the mission fails, blame will be placed on a disliked group’s soldiers again. Even with all that, this mission has been posted everywhere on social media, and Helldivers are ready to answer the mission call!