Helldivers 2 has been on a rollercoaster for a while now. They launched to very positive reviews and quickly broke several concurrent player records on Steam. Sadly, the account-linking debacle caused many players to leave the game.
Players no longer need to link their accounts, but the title is still fighting to reclaim the popularity it once enjoyed. The CCO of Arrowhead Game Studios has confirmed the team is working on improvements with a practical understanding of the game’s performance.
Helldivers 2 Developers Go Hands-on to Better Understand the Game
Every game requires periodic updates and patches. This is even more common in live-service titles such as Fortnite and Helldivers 2, which require constant maintenance and content updates to retain players. There are a multitude of ways in which developers can gain feedback, but first-hand experience is often the best.
A similar approach is taken by the developers of Arrowhead Game Studios, as confirmed by Johan Pilestedt. This was revealed in response to a question asked when Pilestedt was announcing the onboarding of Shams Jorjani as the new CEO of Arrowhead Game Studio. As the Chief Creative Officer, Pilestedt stated that he is now wholly focused on improving Helldivers 2.
Hey everyone,
— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 22, 2024
Big update, I've decided to hire @ShamsJorjani as the new CEO of @ArrowheadGS! We go way back and I wouldn't trust the business in any other hands than his. (…and he comes with an impressive resume and love for games)
But what about me and my involvement in…
A fan asked about the procedure for receiving and reviewing player feedback. Pilestedt stated that he adopts a two-pronged approach. The first is to have developers actively play the game, as it allows the team to understand the average player’s experience. The second is to understand the root cause behind the feedback to ensure a holistic solution can be formulated.
Very good question. First thing we got to do is ensure we get more devs time playing the game. It's hard to make the right decisions if the eyes aren't on the road.
— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 22, 2024
Secondly, I want to ensure we actively look at the sentiment and create a holistic view of WHY feedback is given.…
This approach appears to be quite effective, as it gives developers not only theoretical data but also practical experience on which they can build their improvements. One factor behind the feedback, according to Pilestedt, is that the time to kill an enemy is too long. However, not everyone in the replies agrees with the CCO, and one even states that the game needs more engaging content.
Criticism Has Been Mounting for Helldivers 2
It was only a short while ago when it looked like Arrowhead’s title could do no wrong. There were some ongoing bugs and issues, but it was more or less smooth sailing. Ever since the account-linking incident, the criticisms for the game have been piling on. The latest is targeted towards their new Helldivers 2 Viper Commandos Warbond, with fans stating the offerings are minimal and don’t look impressive either.
The Warbond is adding one new primary weapon and a new secondary weapon, a decision that is being questioned by the fanbase. Players have remarked how previous Warbonds have offered more content, and this feels like Arrowhead is shortchanging them.
Others have also commented on the bugs and glitches that make the experience less than ideal. Arrowhead is aware of the issues present in the game, as revealed by a community manager, but fixing the major ones will require more time and effort, which could impede the monthly Warbond release schedule, though there have been talks to break this schedule.
Do you think more developers should actively play their games to understand the fixes required? Let us know in the comments below!
