Helldivers 2 is built on cooperative gameplay, shining brightest when a full squad of four players tackles its challenging missions. While solo play is an option, the game's true essence emerges in coordinated team efforts.  This design choice wasn't always set in stone.  Originally, Arrowhead Studios experimented with larger teams, but ultimately settled on four players for a more balanced and engaging experience.

Former design director Patrik Lasota shed light on the initial vision for five-player squads.  Testing revealed inherent imbalances in larger groups.  "When you’re four people playing, if a fifth joins you, suddenly you’re a three stack and a two stack," Lasota explained. This uneven distribution hindered cohesive gameplay and impacted overall balance, a core principle of Helldivers 2's design.

Maintaining an engaging experience for all five players proved difficult.  Lasota noted that with five players, someone inevitably ended up on the periphery, less involved in the core action. This diluted the cooperative experience and made it harder to ensure everyone was actively contributing.

Another crucial aspect impacted by squad size was the strategic use of Stratagems, powerful abilities that can sway the tide of battle. With four-player squads, the limited Stratagem slots encourage careful selection and strategic deployment. Five-player teams, however, had access to a wider range of Stratagems, diminishing the importance of pre-mission planning. "It just turned the game into…you didn’t really have to make any choices when it came to stratagems," Lasota stated.