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

Arrowhead Game Studios, the developers behind the hit game Helldivers 2, have recently addressed concerns from the community that they might shift their focus away from the game to work on their next project, tentatively called "Game 6." In a candid conversation on the official Helldivers Discord, CEO Shams Jorjani responded to these concerns following the dramatic launch of the full-scale Illuminate invasion this week.

Jorjani expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from players, 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, however, led some fans to worry that Arrowhead might be diverting resources from Helldivers 2.

Jorjani quickly alleviated these fears, emphasizing that Helldivers 2 remains the studio's primary focus. "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 reassured the community. He further clarified that the longevity of Helldivers 2's content updates would be directly tied to player engagement and the purchase of Super Credits, the game's virtual currency used to acquire 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 challenging development journey and how player support turned things around.

In a follow-up comment, Jorjani addressed a fan's request for Arrowhead to ensure its next game is available globally, avoiding the region-locking issues faced with Helldivers 2. He confidently stated, "The next game is 100% funded by ourselves so we'll call 100% of those shots," hinting that Arrowhead plans to self-publish Game 6, distancing it from Sony and suggesting it won't be Helldivers 3.

Jorjani also shared insights into Arrowhead's approach to developing Game 6, learning from the "rough" eight-year development of Helldivers 2. He emphasized the importance of nailing the "core s\*\*t" early on. "For the most part of the development cycle games plain suck," he explained. "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. 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 statements align with previous comments from other Arrowhead developers, who have expressed a desire for Helldivers 2 to have a long-lasting presence. Alex Bolle, the production director on Helldivers 2, told IGN, "we want it to be around for years and years and years to come." He highlighted the motivation to continue developing new features and systems while staying true to the game's essence. "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," Bolle added, emphasizing the potential for innovation within Helldivers 2's live service model.

Despite the game's challenges, including a U-turn on PSN account requirements, review-bomb campaigns, and ongoing community feedback on game balance, Arrowhead remains committed to Helldivers 2. Recent leaks, including one from PlayStation itself, suggest exciting updates like the addition of Super Earth as a playable map, where players will face the invading Illuminate forces directly on their home planet.