Game Balance
Ongoing coverage on Game Balance.
Latest coverage
New Terraria State of the Game promises fixes for its most frustrating combat problems
Developer Re-Logic is preparing an update for Terraria focused on addressing long-standing combat frustrations, including issues with aggro, invisible hitboxes, and off-screen enemies. The upcoming patch, 1.4.5.7, aims to rebalance game classes and introduce new items, with a potential follow-up patch and crossplay testing planned for the future.
Valve Crushes Deadlock's Overpowered Heroes While Adding Game-Breaking Anti-Stun Item | HappyGamer
Valve has released a significant balance patch for Deadlock, targeting overpowered heroes and introducing a new game-changing item. The update includes nerfs to Bebop, Pocket, and Vyper, alongside buffs for Mo & Krill and Apollo. A new T4 item, Indomitable, can negate stuns and crowd control effects, potentially reshaping team strategies. Defensive buffs to structures and adjustments to the boon system also aim to create more decisive matches.
Bungie promises changes for Marathon’s Ares, the WSTR, and grenade spam
Bungie has acknowledged player concerns regarding grenade spam and weapon balance in the upcoming game Marathon. The developers confirmed on Twitter that they are implementing changes to grenade stock counts and stacks. Additionally, adjustments are being made to the Ares railgun's effectiveness against shielded enemies and the WSTR weapon's damage, with a focus on more nuanced balance changes.
Marvel Rivals’ special Avengers mode is lazy, unbalanced, and just not very fun to play
The new Avengers-themed mode in Marvel Rivals, Path to Doomsday, is criticized for being lazy and unbalanced. The mode pits the original MCU Avengers against an overpowered Loki, with the Avengers lacking healing and facing unfair advantages for Loki, such as high damage and mind control abilities. The maps used also do not fit the Avengers theme, leading to a disappointing player experience.
Invincible VS Day 1 patch notes aim to eliminate solo Touch of Death combos
Patch notes for the fighting games Invincible and Day 1 detail changes aimed at eliminating solo Touch of Death combos. Other adjustments include removing the ability to tag in a character after a kill, increasing the cost of Heroic Strikes, and making moves more punishable.
"Live service is tricky as hell": Helldivers 2 boss says updates are "not an exact science" because the "community changes" constantly
Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani acknowledges the difficulty of managing live service games like Helldivers 2, stating that updates are not an exact science due to the constantly changing player community. He explained that player reception to changes can be unpredictable, even after extensive testing, and that balancing new content with player satisfaction is an ongoing challenge.
Mewgenics' biggest patch yet is on the way with a huge balance overhaul, changes to the breeding system, and 'Hitler's suicide can no longer miss', which is a relief
Mewgenics is preparing to release its largest patch yet, version 1.1, which introduces significant balance overhauls to classes and events, alongside changes to the breeding system. The update, currently available as a beta, aims to address imbalances and refine gameplay mechanics, with a full release date yet to be announced.
Buffs, Nerfs, and Bugs
Marathon players are expressing frustration with in-game issues, particularly regarding grenade mechanics. Developer Bungie has acknowledged the problems and is working on implementing fixes to address player concerns.
Arc Raiders players complain Riven Tides update took a hammer to weapon durability and their beloved anti-Arc cloak,…
Players are expressing significant dissatisfaction with the Riven Tides update for Arc Raiders, particularly concerning drastic reductions in weapon durability and the nerfing of the anti-Arc photoelectric cloak. Embark Studios has implemented changes to weapon durability, including lower starting durability and reduced loss on dropped weapons, alongside a significant increase in the energy cost of the photoelectric cloak. While some players are adapting to the changes, many are calling for reversals or significant tweaks, drawing parallels to player reactions seen in Helldivers 2.
LoL’s new Season 2 kicks off with Deathfire Touch, Stormraider’s Surge, and massive system overhaul
Riot Games has launched Season 2 of 2026 for League of Legends with Patch 26.9, reintroducing Deathfire Touch and Stormraider's Surge while removing Phase Rush. The update includes new starting items, a reworked Statikk Shiv, and a complete overhaul of Role Quests to reduce laning penalties and encourage roaming. Several champions have also received balance changes to accommodate new item and rune synergies.
Marathon is looking to save you from grenade spam and being one-shot by the Ares
Bungie is addressing two major player complaints in Marathon: excessive grenade spam and the Ares railgun with its Prestige mod causing one-shot kills. The developer plans to adjust grenade stock counts and stack sizes, and is working on a fix for the Ares' unintended one-tap capability. These changes aim to improve the overall player experience and game balance.
The Division Resurgence hits PC with full cross-play, but balance questions remain
The Division Resurgence has launched on PC in early access, featuring full cross-play with iOS and Android versions. Players can use a single Ubisoft account to maintain progress across all platforms. However, concerns have been raised regarding potential balance issues between PC players using mouse and keyboard and mobile players using touch controls.
League of Legends Patch 26.9 Drops With Latest Champion Balance Changes | HappyGamer
League of Legends Patch 26.9 has been released, introducing new champion balance changes that are already being discussed by the community. The patch aims to keep the game fresh through regular adjustments, though it acknowledges the difficulty in pleasing all players with its extensive roster and diverse player base.
Bungie makes Marathon's Cryo Archive map less brutal, blocking spawn rush strats and giving out one free sponsored…
Bungie has implemented changes to the Cryo Archive map in Marathon to improve the player experience. These updates include providing a free sponsored kit each weekend and addressing spawn rush strategies by blocking common routes used by aggressive players. The WSTR shotgun has also been rebalanced to encourage more reliable body shots.
Helldivers 2 finally buffs mechs with double durability, and in unrelated news, Arrowhead is selling new mechs for $10
Arrowhead has released patch 6.2.2 for Helldivers 2, significantly buffing mech durability and health pools, while also introducing two new premium mechs for $10 via the Exo Experts warbond. These changes aim to make mechs more viable and enticing, despite increased damage from Terminids to vehicles. The update also includes buffs for other stratagems and new spring-themed map biomes.
Marathon’s controversial WSTR shotgun receives further changes in latest update
Bungie has released a new update for Marathon, focusing on further adjustments to the WSTR Combat Shotgun. The update increases the shotgun's base damage and damage against AI targets, while slightly reducing its critical multiplier and damage falloff rate. This patch also includes various bug fixes and other minor gameplay adjustments.
"We've heard a clear frustration": Arc Raiders update adds a beach holiday map while patching the gun balance to ensure "all players are challenged by weapon attrition"
The Riven Tides update for the extraction shooter Arc Raiders introduces a new coastal map with various attractions, including a slide and a beachcombing activity. The update also addresses player frustration with weapon durability by rebalancing weapon attrition, repair mechanics, and spawn rates to ensure a more consistent challenge for all players.
Helldivers 2 Dev Agreed Exosuits Were Too Fragile, So Now They Are Twice As Strong
Helldivers 2 has received a significant update that doubles the health of its Exosuits, making them more durable and less prone to breaking. The update also introduces new Exosuit variants, rebalances various weapons and stratagems, and adds new biomes. While Exosuits are now stronger, they are also more vulnerable to specific enemy attacks and environmental effects.
Weapons will break faster in Arc Raiders as the devs push PvP in a huge update that aims to fix the 'chronic state…
Arc Raiders has received a significant update called Riven Tides, which drastically alters weapon durability mechanics to encourage more player versus player combat and reduce weapon hoarding. Weapon durability will now decrease faster per shot, with higher-tier weapons having more longevity. Upgrading weapons will also partially repair their durability, and durability loss upon being knocked out has been reduced.
FFXIV White Mage Gets Devastating Nerfs That Change Everything | HappyGamer
Square Enix has implemented significant changes to the White Mage job in Final Fantasy XIV, altering or removing iconic abilities like Assize and Presence of Mind. These changes have fundamentally altered the job's identity, shifting its focus from burst healing to sustained care and sparking debate within the player community. The rework is speculated to be in preparation for upcoming content in the Dawntrail expansion.
