Helldivers 2 Developer Comments on DEI

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home January 2, 2025 5 Views 5 Min Read
Helldivers 2 Developer Comments on DEI



Summary

  • Helldivers 2 creative director, Johan Pilestedt, believes DEI should only be included in games if it enhances the experience.
  • Pilestedt’s comments drew mixed reactions from the community.
  • According to Pilestedt, Arrowhead Studios won’t prioritize DEI in games unless it is absolutely necessary for the player experience.

Helldivers 2 creative director and Arrowhead Studios’ CCO, Johan Pilestedt, recently stated that DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) is not always necessary in video games. Pilestedt gave his opinion on a controversial matter, drawing mixed reactions from Helldivers 2 fans and video game enthusiasts.

DEI has become an important topic of discussion within the video game industry. Many creators in the media have embraced the idea of diverse representation, advocating for the inclusion of people from all backgrounds in video games. In the past, it was more common to see the same archetypes of characters repeatedly. However, over time, this has started to change, and nowadays lead characters are more varied—much like in movies and other artistic media. That said, some believe that the forced inclusion of DEI makes some games feel unnatural (a notable example is the controversy surrounding The Last of Us Part 2), while others consider it a crucial aspect that defines the future direction of video games. The Helldivers 2 creative director recently shared his opinion on the matter.

A Helldiver kicking an enemy in Helldivers 2

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Does Helldivers 2 Evolving Into A Sequel Appeal More Than Having a Standalone Helldivers 3?

Honestly, I think the approach Arrowhead is taking with Helldivers 2 is something that could easily be adopted by a lot of live service games, especially sports one. I’d like to see the likes of NBA 2K and EA Sports FC take a leaf from Arrowhead’s book and focus on servicing an existing title for a longer period before moving onto a new one. From where I’m standing, evolving Helldivers 2 into Helldivers 3 over time puts the interests of the existing player base first, which I hope results in rewards in the form of long-term loyalty to the product.

Taking to Twitter, Arrowhead Studios’ CCO, Johan Pilestedt, asked players about their expectations for Arrowhead’s next title after Helldivers 2, revealing that he is already working on its high concept. Responding to the post, a player advised Pilestedt to “never add DEI” to his games. Pilestedt took the chance and quickly responded, saying he believes DEI can “detract” from a game if it does not add to the experience. According to him, “games should be a pure pursuit of amazing moments,” which means DEI is not always necessary, as some have come to believe. Finally, Pilestedt commented that he doesn’t care about contemporary political statements; what matters to him is making good games.

Helldivers 2 Creative Director Believes DEI Can Detract from the Game Experience

Arrowhead Studios’ CCO’s comments drew mixed reactions from players. Some believe that “good media” always contain political statements and that DEI is necessary to prevent discrimination, arguing that the highly popular Helldivers 2 itself reflects contemporary political themes. Others appreciated Pilestedt’s comment, calling it “common sense” and believing that the inclusion of DEI has gone too far.

Games should be a pure pursuit of amazing moments

Even though this is just his personal opinion, the last thing Arrowhead Studios seems to need now is more controversy. Just a couple of weeks ago, the studio had to apologize to Helldivers 2 fans for the pricing of the Killzone items in the game’s Superstore. The game faced significant backlash from players who complained about the handling of the crossover and the monetization strategy.

While DEI remains a controversial topic, it is also an important subject of discussion within the video game industry. How things will be handled in Arrowhead Studios’ next game remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Pilestedt won’t include DEI unless it is strictly necessary.

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