A Helldivers 2 fan recently noticed the shoulderpad skulls from the armor seen in the game’s cinematic trailer are slightly different from those found in the game itself. While the difference is subtle, this small detail did not escape the notice of one diligent Helldivers 2 player.

To help recruit heroes to fight the battle to protect Super Earth, Helldivers 2 released a hilarious cinematic trailer alongside the game on February 8, 2024. The effort worked, with millions of copies selling, making Helldivers 2 PlayStation’s fastest-selling game in history, and Sony’s best release on PC.

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Helldivers 2 Player Shows Disappointing Flag Melee Detail in Video

Helldivers 2 players debate a recently spotted detail that technically qualifies as a bug fix but has seemingly disappointed some fans.

Helldivers 2 Cinematic Skull Different From In-Game

However, one Helldiver has only recently noticed a big discrepancy between the cinematic and the game itself. As reported by Helldivers 2 fan O_2og on Reddit, the Helldivers skull logo on the shoulder of the soldiers in the cinematic is larger than the one in the game itself. Likewise, the skull’s eyes on the in-game model are round, the nose smaller, and the top of its head more angular. Lastly, the Helldivers 2 armor itself seems to have a different texture, giving the two symbols different types of weathered looks.

It is hard to say exactly why this difference exists. The most likely reason is that one was created before the other; it is possible the in-game model was made first, and the smaller skull did not translate well in the trailer, or the cinematic was produced first, and the 3D modelers adjusted it to better fit the engine. The cinematic was also likely outsourced, meaning it could just be a simple artistic difference between studios.

Helldivers 2

Either way, O_2og’s fellow Helldivers had plenty to say about it as well. Many proposed comedic in-universe answers to this conundrum, including that the “actors” in the “commercial” weren’t given “real Helldiver armor,” or that it was an older version of the standard-issue gear from Helldivers 2. Others joked that this small discrepancy made the game “literally unplayable,” while others still debated on which of the two skulls they preferred aesthetically. Regardless, some fans were surprised it took them all this long to notice, while others were shocked the others had noticed such small details at all.

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Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox Series X|S on August 26, featuring full crossplay with existing PC and PlayStation 5 gamers. This will likely lead to another surge in player count, making now the perfect time for fans to check out Helldivers 2 and join the battle for Super Earth – regardless of the size of their shoulderpad skulls.

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Helldivers 2 Tag Page Cover Art
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Third-Person Shooter
Extraction Shooter
Action
Science Fiction
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Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
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Released
February 8, 2024
ESRB
Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
Developer(s)
Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
Publisher(s)
Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
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Helldivers 2 Press Image 1
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Engine
bitsquid
Genre(s)
Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction