Helldivers 2: Arrowhead's Main Focus for the Long Haul, CEO Promises Continued Support

Arrowhead, the developers behind the hit game Helldivers 2, have recently addressed concerns from the community regarding the possibility of shifting focus away from the game to their next project, internally known as "Game 6." As reported by VG247, CEO Shams Jorjani took to the official Helldivers Discord to clarify the situation following the launch of the full-scale Illuminate invasion.

Jorjani reassured fans, stating, "The wonderful thing is that thanks to the amazing support of you FINE people Arrowhead's future is quite bright and we have the freedom to explore some really cool concepts that we couldn't have otherwise. Game 6 (our next project) will happen the way it will happen thanks to you." However, this statement raised some eyebrows among fans, with one expressing worry that it implied Arrowhead was already diverting significant resources to Game 6.

In response, Jorjani firmly dispelled these fears: "Nah. It's ALL Helldivers 2 for now. A very, very small team will spin up something later this year and go at it sloowly. Helldivers is our main focus and will be for a loooong time." He further elaborated on the duration of content updates for Helldivers 2, stating, "As long as you folks keep playing and buying Super Credits we can keep it going." This points to the in-game currency used to purchase Premium Warbonds, emphasizing the role of player engagement in sustaining the game's development.

Jorjani also shared insights on the challenges faced last summer, noting, "Last summer we were kinda screwing the pooch so it looked like we wouldn't be able to keep the train going for a long time - but we turned the ship around, you support us a lot so it's looking bright." This acknowledgment highlights the turnaround and positive outlook for Helldivers 2, thanks to continued player support.

In an interesting follow-up, Jorjani addressed a fan's call to make Arrowhead's next game available in all regions, steering clear of the region-locking issues seen with Helldivers 2. He confirmed, "The next game is 100% funded by ourselves so we'll call 100% of those shots." This suggests that Arrowhead plans to self-finance Game 6, implying it won't be a sequel to Helldivers and that they aim to avoid the pitfalls of external publishing constraints.

Reflecting on the development process, Jorjani shared lessons learned from the eight-year journey of Helldivers 2, stating, "For the most part of the development cycle games plain suck. Very seldom are they truly fun from the get-go. And for Helldivers taking eight years to make it was rough for the longest time. But it came together in the end. The ONLY way to know is to playtest playtest playtest." He added that for Game 6, Arrowhead intends to focus on nailing the core elements early on before expanding, a more efficient approach to game development.

These comments align with previous statements from Arrowhead developers, who have expressed their desire for Helldivers 2 to remain a vibrant game for years. Notably, Helldivers 2 became the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game ever, selling an impressive 12 million copies in just 12 weeks. Despite the challenges such as the U-turn on PSN account requirements on Steam, review-bomb campaigns, and community feedback on game balance, the enthusiasm at Arrowhead remains strong.

Alex Bolle, the production director on Helldivers 2, emphasized this commitment to IGN, saying, "we want it to be around for years and years and years to come." He elaborated on the creative aspirations, "How do we stay true to the Helldivers 2 fantasy, challenging enough that we keep making amazing new features and new systems and all that while we stay true to who we are? And I think it's something that is so motivating for the years to come."

Bolle also highlighted the potential for innovation, noting, "The more we figure out how to thrive in a live environment, and we still have a way to go to figure out a lot of things around that, the more we can let creativity loose on new systems that we would've never thought about a year ago when we released." This indicates a forward-looking approach to evolving the game and integrating fresh ideas.

Recent leaks, including one from PlayStation itself, hint at the addition of Super Earth as a playable map, signaling the ongoing development and expansion of Helldivers 2's universe as the Illuminate invasion progresses.