As Helldivers 2 grows and develops, it continues to set an example for what live-service titles should deliver to its players. However, what truly sets Helldivers 2 apart is how actively its community participates in the game’s future developments.
Seeing the unity and loyalty this game has cultivated, one has to stop at some point and ask what inspirations led to its creation. As it turns out, one prominent inspiration may have come from the unlikeliest of places.
Christian Bale’s Equilibrium Was One of Helldivers 2’s Inspirations
From presenting the craziest of Stratagems to working hand-in-hand with Arrowhead to ensure the game’s continued success, Helldivers 2‘s community has been riding the high wave for the past few weeks.
If you’re a part of this vibrant community, here’s something that’ll excite you even more. In a recent interview with the game’s former writer, Russ Nickel, he unveiled some fun details on how the game’s humorous and satirical tone came to be.
Interestingly, one of the more surprising sources of inspiration behind Nickel’s world-building was Christian Bale’s sci-fi action flick from 2002, Equilibrium. Even Nickel seems to understand how strange the mention is, as he further elaborated on how the film played a hand in cultivating the game’s dystopian themes:
“Fahrenheit 451, 1984, and V for Vendetta were all formative for me. Even the trashier stuff, like the film Equilibrium, all of those sci-fi dystopias that try to dissect how this dystopia came to be are very much a part of my DNA.”
Now, most may be aware that Equilibrium is no masterpiece. Aside from the over-the-top meme-worthy fight scenes, the movie has mostly been forgotten in internet culture, remembered only by a few. Digging deeper, however, one can see what aspects of the film may have inspired Helldivers 2, from its depiction of a Totalitarian regime to the themes of Sacrifice and Duty.
So, while it’s a shame that the movie with so much promise ultimately failed, it is heartwarming to know that some parts of it live on through one of the most popular games on the planet.
Helldivers 2’s Russ Nickel Revealed More Details on His Upcoming Project
After leaving Helldivers 2 in a safe and sound spot—though some in the community will undoubtedly disagree—Russ has moved on to greener pastures and is now developing a new game with some of his old colleagues.
From what has been revealed, his upcoming game will be a tactical-strategy RPG, something like Fire Emblem. Not only that, but the game will not be a non-live service, something Nickel was very adamant about, explaining how much burnout he faced during his time at Helldivers 2.
Given how strongly the game’s overarching narrative and world-building resonated with the player base, Nickel’s upcoming game will undoubtedly be a treat for all fans of the genre.
With that said, were you surprised by the inclusion of Equilibrium among Helldivers 2’s inspirations? Do you think Nickel’s next game will carry his previous work’s excellent writing? Let us know in the comments below!
