Arrowhead Boss: Helldivers 2 Our Main Focus for Long Time, Driven by Player Support

Arrowhead Game Studios, the developers behind the hit game Helldivers 2, have reassured fans that they are not abandoning the game to focus on their next project, tentatively called "Game 6." This assurance came from Arrowhead's CEO, Shams Jorjani, in a conversation on the official Helldivers Discord server, following the launch of the full-scale Illuminate invasion.

Jorjani expressed gratitude for the community's support, 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." This comment sparked concern among some fans, who feared it signaled a shift in focus away from Helldivers 2.

However, Jorjani quickly clarified, "Nah. It's ALL Helldivers 2 for now. A very, very small team will spin up something later this year and go at it slowly. Helldivers is our main focus and will be for a loooong time." He further emphasized that the longevity of Helldivers 2's content updates would be contingent on player engagement and purchases of Super Credits, the game's virtual currency used to buy Premium Warbonds. "As long as you folks keep playing and buying Super Credits we can keep it going," Jorjani stated, reflecting on the game's turnaround from last summer's struggles.

In response to a fan's request for Arrowhead's next game to be available in all regions, Jorjani revealed that "Game 6" would be entirely self-funded, suggesting a departure from their partnership with Sony for Helldivers 2. This also indicates that "Game 6" will not be Helldivers 3.

Discussing the development approach for "Game 6," Jorjani contrasted it with the challenging eight-year development cycle of Helldivers 2. He stressed the importance of playtesting and aiming to perfect the "core s\*\*t" early in the development process. "For the most part of the development cycle games plain suck," Jorjani noted, explaining that Helldivers 2 took a long time to come together but ultimately succeeded. "For our next game we're doing things in a much smarter way and nailing a lot of the core s\*\*t early on (as you should) then make the rest."

These comments align with previous statements from Arrowhead's developers, who have expressed a desire for Helldivers 2 to remain a long-term success. The game has already broken records as the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game ever, with 12 million copies sold in just 12 weeks. Despite various challenges such as the PSN account requirement controversy and fluctuating community feedback on game balance, Arrowhead remains committed to Helldivers 2's future.

Alex Bolle, the production director on Helldivers 2, shared with IGN their vision for the game's longevity, stating, "we want it to be around for years and years and years to come." He highlighted the team's motivation to innovate while staying true to the game's identity, and expressed excitement about adapting and incorporating new ideas into the live game environment.

Recent leaks, including one from PlayStation itself, suggest that players may soon see Super Earth as a playable map, as the Illuminate storyline progresses to invade the home planet.