Helldivers 2, the PvE co-op shooter from Arrowhead Games, is still dominating the Steam charts and doesn’t show any sign of stopping. The game is designed specifically for co-op play, with no inclusion of a PvP, but friendly fire is present in the game.
This allows for some hilarious, or frustrating, moments in the game when allied weaponry can be the thing leading to your demise. It seems the CEO of Arrowhead is also aware of how players are using friendly fire within the game, and he seems to be on board with their methods!
Helldivers 2 Friendly Fire can Lead to Some Funny Moments During Missions
In an interview with PlayStation, Arrowhead Games CEO Johan Pilestedt discussed how they took what was a top-down twin-stick shooter and turned it into the online gaming phenomenon it has become. He spoke at length about how the studio wanted to deliver a focused co-op experience and the decisions they took to ensure the game was geared towards such gameplay.
The topic of friendly fire was then brought up, a feature consistent across both Helldivers 1 and 2. There is no option to switch it off; players will just have to make sure they are targeting foes and not friends. Even though Pilestedt had previously stated they did not want to include a PvP mode, they are steadfast in their inclusion of friendly fire.
The main reasons for friendly fire in Helldivers 2 are believability and consistency. Pilestedt says,
If your bullets can kill enemies, and the enemies can kill you, then logic dictates that your bullets must also be able to kill your friends.
The idea is to create a game world where the rules of the world apply to players as well as bots. This requires the player to actively think during combat situations instead of charging ahead guns blazing. He also admits it’s funny to see a carpet bomb on your friends and watch them fly into the air.
Pilestedt Spoke on Other Game Mechanics and Design Choices in the Interview
He also brought up the topic of stratagems and how they are based on real-world examples. The inspiration for the various tools we can summon on the field comes from pop culture and war movies. The inclusion of a mech in the game, the Exo-44 Walker, required a lot of thought put into how the mech would function, its armaments, strengths, and weaknesses.
Helldivers 2 is all about collaboration and the developers worked with the concept of a watering hole, where players would need to gather before dispersing. They included this aspect dynamically via their shared resupply stratagems, players dropping samples on death, and reinforcement placements.
With plenty of over-the-top action and mission variety, Helldivers 2 has captured the hearts and minds of anyone who enjoys a solid co-op experience. It’s clear the studio behind the game is working on it with a lot of passion, and it’s exciting to see what they add in the future.
Do you feel more games should allow friendly fire? Let us know in the comments below.
