Arrowhead Game Studios’ Helldivers 2 was a smash hit and is one of the most popular and successful game releases this year. The game has impressed fans and critics alike as it gets things right in almost every aspect that affects a game and its community.
Helldivers 2‘s success proved that live-service titles, when done right, can be successful. This becomes much more important when other highly anticipated games like Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League failed, despite being in development for a long time.
Johan Pilestedt Shares the Road to Glory With Helldivers 2
Live-service titles are a much bigger risk in the gaming industry than any other genre. While speaking at the Nordic Game conference earlier this week, Helldivers 2 director Johan Pilestedt shared how the game became a smash hit.
Pilestedt also dismissed the claims that the game’s $40 price tag was a reason for its success, and while that may be one reason, there are more, such as the content and other things. He instead had a piece of advice for other developers about monetization in the game.
Pilestedt stated that a lot of games depend on monetization, but developers should think about the players’ bank accounts. He stated:
If you want to have monetization in the game, if you think that people buying new stuff in the game, it’s a fair assumption, a lot of products work like that, Magic: The Gathering, Warhammer etc, all work by additional purchases.
He further added:
But don’t charge $70 upfront and then nickel and dime people for skins. It’s just wrong; be kind to users, and do live service right by asking yourself what is good for the gamers in this game being live service rather than what is good for the bank account.
This shows that it was not just luck or a lack of good live-service titles that made Helldivers 2 a success. But it was the careful consideration and decision-making on what to include in the game and how that made a real difference for the game.
Fans Are Full of Praise for Johan Pilestedt
Helldivers 2 fans have praised Johan Pilestedt for his consideration for the community. Players said that the whole presentation of him speaking about the game was amazing, and they have nothing but respect for the developers.
Many have said that the reason they play the game and support it is because people genuinely care about it and the community. Pilestedt attributed a share of the game’s success to Sony and the support from the company.
Johan Pilestedt doesn’t sugarcoat it by calling out the fatal flaws of live service games that they trap themselves into it
byu/shamaboy inHelldivers
Fans have also said that it is the publisher’s patience that too played a part in the game’s success. One player said, “This guy is single-handedly the only reason why I still have hope for this game,” while another added, “I shall follow this man to the gates of hell.”
What are your thoughts about Helldivers 2 and its success? Are you playing the game? Let us know in the comments.
