Helldivers 2 is a massive success for Arrowhead Game Studios and Sony Interactive Entertainment and the gaming community hopes to see it improve. Players have gotten quite creative with other major games like Elden Ring and Fallout but it may not be the same for this title.
Director Johan Pilestedt revealed he got his start as a game developer through modding, which is an interesting origin story. Some fans have done incredible things with the game in its current state but modding may not be in the cards for this project specifically in the future.
Johan Pilestedt Loves Mods but Manages Expectations for Helldivers 2 Players
Unlike the games made by FromSoftware and Bethesda Game Studios that are running on a much more advanced game engine, Arrowhead Game Studios opted to use an antiquated engine which makes it difficult to improve. Pilestedt did mention that a dream project of his is to develop a game where modding is welcome and supported officially but also realized that the feature could never work for the current project.
Yeah unfortunately it's a can of worms to open up for modding and it would take a lot of work on our end to support it properly (taking time away from other things).
But I do love modding.
— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 8, 2024
Some fans have gotten creative and were able to integrate some character models or skins from other franchises into the live-service game despite not having any official support from the developers. Pilestedt was impressed by this feat but acknowledges that doing so can open a can of worms where the developers will need to divide their resources and time, which can be counterproductive.
The gaming community often uses mods to inject themselves into the game but the results may vary and it could not only ruin the game but also disrespect the idea and craftsmanship of the developers. Pilestedt loves the idea and will use his experience with this game to make sure that his next project will provide more freedom and flexibility to the player base.
Modding Is a Tall Order for the Helldivers 2 Engine, and Johan Pilestedt Admits It
Sometimes creativity can get the best out of players but it rarely comes at a cost. Pushing for something that is not officially supported by the game developers could have a disastrous impact on the entire gaming community. It is wholesome to see Pilestedt share his roots and his love for the act of modding but players should accept the game for what it is and not force it and turn it into their creative playground.
Arrowhead Game Studios gained the confidence to work on a more ambitious project after this one and there is a high probability modding could be a feature made available from the start for players. Pilestedt loves the idea but he probably would not want to risk compromising the stability of the game for the feature to be made available.
There is a strong likelihood that if the developers were to find a way to make modding possible for the game, it could affect productivity and have a significant impact on the overall quality. Not all games should be like others but it is good to be inspired by the success of others and to encourage creativity.
Would you like to see the developers support mods in Helldivers 2? Let us know in the comments section below!
