Helldivers 2 Dev Addresses Killzone Backlash

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 19, 2024 6 Views 5 Min Read
Helldivers 2 Dev Addresses Killzone Backlash



Summary

  • Arrowhead Games CEO apologizes for Helldivers 2’s Killzone crossover pricing controversy and assures that the studio aims to find a “sweet spot” for future content.
  • Players criticize the high price and limited availability of cosmetics in Helldivers 2’s Killzone crossover.
  • Arrowhead assured players that the studio would use feedback to improve future releases.



Arrowhead Games CEO Shams Jorjani has apologized following the recent backlash over Helldivers 2‘s Killzone crossover pricing, stating that the studio wants to find a “sweet spot” between content and prices. The Helldivers 2 Killzone crossover launched on December 18 and was quickly met with criticism from fans who complained that the cosmetics were overpriced, especially considering that Helldivers 2 is not a free game.

Helldivers 2’s Killzone crossover began as a rumor and ultimately became a reality. The crossover features items inspired by the iconic Helghast aesthetic, including an armor set, an assault rifle, cosmetics, and a community challenge. Along with this, Arrowhead announced the implementation of a new item rotation system to address player concerns about how quickly items disappear. As a result, a second wave of Killzone content is scheduled for the cooperative third-person shooter on December 23. Although a crossover with the popular 2009 sci-fi shooter Killzone 2 initially excited fans, the community has expressed dissatisfaction with it.


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Many players feel that the 1,975 Super Credits price for Helldivers 2’s Killzone crossover (roughly $20) is too steep, especially for a game that isn’t free-to-play. Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani responded to the criticism on the Helldivers Discord, saying this was the studio’s first big collaboration, and it’s still figuring out how to get pricing and content right. He admitted that the pricing was a mistake, explained it had been discussed in a recent team meeting, and assured players that the studio would use feedback to improve future releases. “We’d love to find the sweet spot of people loving the content AND the price,” Jorjani said, acknowledging they missed the mark this time.


Arrowhead CEO Admitted That Helldivers 2’s Killzone Crossover Pricing Was a Mistake


Players have also raised concerns about the crossover items being available for only five days before they’re removed from the store, creating an unnecessary sense of urgency. Jorjani admitted that this approach may have played a part in the negative reactions and assured fans the studio plans to adjust in the future. Some players believed this price could have been set by Sony, which owns the Killzone IP, but Arrowhead CCO Johan Pilestedt confirmed on Twitter that Arrowhead was the only one responsible for the decisions. Pilestedt explained that the team’s goal was to create content with long-term sustainability in mind. He acknowledged that Helldivers 2’s Killzone crossover high prices and limited availability understandably frustrated players.


This controversy comes after Helldivers 2 had finally regained its overwhelmingly positive rating on Steam. While Arrowhead has now addressed those issues, it took almost a year to rebuild player trust. It remains to be seen whether the studio can handle the Killzone controversy without further upsetting its player base.

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