The success of Helldivers 2, the latest game from Swedish studio Arrowhead Studios, has been nothing short of astonishing. Released in February for PlayStation 5 and PC, the game’s multiplayer sci-fi shooter quickly became one of the fastest-selling PlayStation titles of all time, with over 12 million units sold in just 12 weeks.
According to Johan Pilestedt, the game’s chief creative officer, the studio’s decision to adopt a live service model was inspired by his own love of tabletop role-playing games. Growing up in Sweden, Pilestedt spent countless hours playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends, and this experience shaped Arrowhead’s approach to game design.
“We wanted to create a game that felt like going to someone’s house to take part in an adventure,” Pilestedt explained. The studio sketched out a long-form choose-your-own-adventure story, which it adjusts as the community completes (or fails) orders from the government of Super Earth, a self-proclaimed global democracy.
This approach has paid off in spades, with players responding to the game’s dynamic narrative and ever-changing story arcs. Unlike other live service games, which typically introduce predetermined content on a seasonal basis, updates in Helldivers 2 form the backbone of a constantly evolving story that changes and fluctuates depending on player actions.
One notable example of this is the game’s moral dilemma, where players are forced to choose between unlocking a new weapon or saving a children’s hospital from a siege by killer robots. The community chose to help the children, and Arrowhead was forced to adjust its planned story to account for the decision.
While Helldivers 2 has not maintained its sky-high player counts, the game continues to engage players with creative missions and a constantly evolving narrative. Recent updates have introduced new factions, enemies, and challenges, keeping players on their toes.
Pilestedt sees the game’s success as a result of its unique approach to live service gaming. “We have some really exciting updates coming,” he said, “and some rather big twists and turns for the core expectations of what the Helldivers universe even is.”
With new expansion on the horizon, Arrowhead Studios is poised to continue pushing the boundaries of what live service gaming can achieve.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/arts/helldivers-2-arrowhead-studios.html