It's been a while since I've played the game or engaged with the community (1.5+ years?) but the devs would definitely nerf things the community found very fun. Like, dudes, it's not a PvP game. Just leave it alone. Let people enjoy your jank. The constant shuffle of core mechanics turned it into a game that just felt unpredictable and unfinished. It's what pushed me away.

I used to think it was incompetence. But they were so smug in their update video where they proudly proclaimed "we didnt do anything to the Coyote." No, instead, they nerfed it by nerfing ALL FIRE DAMAGE GLOBALLY. Meaning not only did they nerf the Coyote like they wanted, they also nerfed flamethrowers and incendiary weapons.

Then they repeated this with the tank. Right before they dropped the tank, they reduced its health AND INCREASED DURABLE DAMAGE ON ALL ENEMIES. Which nerfed the tank like they wanted, but also nerfed ALL VEHICLES AND TURRETS. So now all our vehicles, not just the tank but also the FRV and the mechs AND all the turrets, are armored with soggy paper.

Then they get backlash, they wheel out Pilestedt, and he says "we will change, we will listen, we will be more transparent." Every. Single. Time. They have done this like six times, and they keep making the same mistakes. Making a good Helldivers 2 update isn't even hard. But Arrowhead's updates make it look like a monumental challenge. I dont even know what the devs do all day, most of the content made for their game is outsourced, they dont even make it themselves.

This isnt incompetence. Its Antagonistic DM Syndrome. It cant be anything other than intentional at this point.