Arrowhead Game Studios plans to enhance Helldivers 2 with ambitious features typically reserved for sequels, rather than developing Helldivers 3. Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt has outlined ideas like eight-player missions and large open-world maps. The studio is currently prioritizing technical fixes before introducing these additions.
Arrowhead Game Studios, the developer behind Helldivers 2, intends to evolve the game through substantial updates instead of launching a third installment. This approach mirrors Bungie’s long-term support for Destiny 2, aiming to integrate what Pilestedt describes as “sequel-level features” directly into the existing title.
Johan Pilestedt, who transitioned from CEO to Chief Creative Officer to focus on the game’s creative direction, shared his vision in a recent video interview. He emphasized community input in shaping the game’s future, noting potential additions that could transform gameplay. Among these are eight-player missions, enabling larger cooperative efforts. Pilestedt also envisions expansive open-world maps where players might encounter other Helldiver squads organically, fostering spontaneous teamwork on bigger challenges. Additionally, he mentioned operations that could impact multiple teams, enhancing interconnected social play.
“There’s quite a lot of [sequel-level features] actually and I think the community is pretty good at picking up where they sort of want the game to head when you consider sort of the sequel-esque approach to it,” Pilestedt said. “Eight-player missions would be one of those. Larger open-world maps where you maybe come across other Helldiver teams to then take on bigger challenges together. Operations that affect other teams, as well, would be those kind of level of features.”
However, these enhancements are not immediate. Arrowhead is currently scaling back on new content to address technical issues, including efforts to reduce the game’s storage requirements. This focus on stability aims to lay a strong foundation for future ambitious updates, ensuring Helldivers 2 remains a vibrant live-service experience.
