Helldivers 2 developers Arrowhead have reassured fans that they are not abandoning the game to focus on their next project, dubbed "Game 6." As reported by VG247, CEO Shams Jorjani addressed player concerns in the official Helldivers Discord following the launch of the full-scale Illuminate invasion.
Jorjani emphasized the positive impact of 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." However, this statement led to concerns from some fans, suggesting that Arrowhead might be diverting resources from Helldivers 2.
Jorjani quickly clarified these concerns, stating, "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 explained that the longevity of Helldivers 2 depends on player engagement and purchases of Super Credits, the in-game currency used to buy Premium Warbonds. "As long as you folks keep playing and buying Super Credits we can keep it going," Jorjani said, reflecting on the game's turnaround from a challenging period last summer.
In response to a fan's plea for Arrowhead's next game to be available in all regions, Jorjani revealed, "The next game is 100% funded by ourselves so we'll call 100% of those shots." This statement suggests that Arrowhead's next project, Game 6, will be self-funded and not tied to a publisher like Sony, hinting that it won't be Helldivers 3.
Discussing the development approach for Game 6, Jorjani shared insights on the lessons learned from Helldivers 2's eight-year development cycle. "For the most part of the development cycle games plain suck," he noted, emphasizing the importance of playtesting. "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."
Jorjani expressed optimism about the new approach for Game 6, stating, "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." This aligns with previous comments from Arrowhead developers who want Helldivers 2 to remain a vibrant game for years to come.
Helldivers 2 has achieved remarkable success, becoming the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game ever with 12 million copies sold in just 12 weeks. Despite various challenges, including the controversial PSN account requirements on Steam and community reactions to game balance changes, Arrowhead's commitment remains strong. Alex Bolle, production director on Helldivers 2, told IGN, "we want it to be around for years and years and years to come."
Bolle highlighted the team's motivation to keep evolving the game, saying, "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."
Recent leaks suggest exciting new content on the horizon, including the possibility of Super Earth becoming a playable map as the Illuminate make their way to our home planet.
