GamesThird Person ShooterHelldivers 2In a year of brutal layoffs and closures, Helldivers 2 gave its studio the “financial stability to keep going” and “keep making the games that we want"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesThird Person ShooterHelldivers 2In a year of brutal layoffs and closures, Helldivers 2 gave its studio the “financial stability to keep going” and “keep making the games that we want"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Arrowhead Games / PlayStation)
Helldivers 2flooded the internet with memes, turned millions of us into democracy-spreading fascists, and gave developer Arrowhead Game Studios the financial stability to “keep making the games that we want.”
That’s what game director Michael Eriksson says about the co-op phenomenon’s huge success, whichthe team didn’t think was even possible pre-launch, in an interview with GamesRadar+ ahead of the heftyOmens of Tyranny update. “It’s given us financial stability to keep going for many years, which is a really big privilege, and we’re all very happy about that,” Eriksson explains, “but it doesn’t feel that different in the studio.”
Despite presumably having way more money to work with - and keep people employed with - Eriksson says the developer’s attitude hasn’t really changed all that much because everyone’s focused on the same thing they’ve always been focused on. “Except for the financial stability, which we’re super happy about, it doesn’t feel that different,” he continues. “We’re just going to keep making the games that we want, that we think are the most fun.”
Production director Alex Bolle agrees that “it’s definitely putting us on a more stable horizon, especially in these times” - probably referring to this brutally volatile year in the industry, where a record number of developers have suffered from layoffs and just one flop, like fellowPlayStation shooter Concord, can kill an entire studio. “It feels good,” he goes on. “It feels good to see that we can look ahead a long time and keep the devs happy as well. That part is so valuable - to think ‘yeah, we’re gonna be able to keep doing what we want, making games’. That’s precious. I think, as a studio, it’s weird, it didn’t change much. We kept the same culture. If I would go back a year, I would still feel the same with the people I’m working with. We really kept the Arrowhead way.”
Keep the Illuminate at bay with ourHelldivers 2 best weapons tier list.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”