In an industry often criticized for prioritizing profit over player experience, the very-vocal CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios, Johan Pilestedt, has taken a refreshingly honest approach with fans of their latest release, Helldivers 2.
The game, a satirical third-person co-op shooter, tasks players with defending democracy against waves of enemies. It has quickly risen to become one of the most popular titles on the market, even surpassing the peak concurrent player count of Grand Theft Auto V on Steam. This popularity, however, has not come without its challenges, particularly regarding server capacity, which has struggled to accommodate the influx of eager players.
Pilestedt's response to these server woes was uncharacteristically candid for someone of a similar position.
On social media, where he frequently engages with fans sinceHelldivers 2 came out earlier this month, Pilestedt gave sound advise to an interested player who lamented not having the funds to purchase the game to wait until the server issues were resolved. His concern wasn't just for the game's profitability but also for the potential disappointment of players unable to enjoy their purchase due to technical problems. This empathic advise that puts the player's experience above all else, stands out in a landscape where the rush to monetize can often eclipse how players feel about the game.