Helldivers 3 “only makes sense” if it’s so unlike Helldivers 2 “that both games can exist side by side”, says Arrowhead boss, discussing their new prototype game
Arrowhead is not planning Helldivers 3 at present, and studio chief creative officer Johan Pilestedt says a sequel would only make sense if it were different enough to sit alongside Helldivers 2. He argues that a sequel could split the community and make players start over, while continuing to improve the existing game preserves its momentum.
About 95% of Arrowhead’s roughly 150 staff are working on Helldivers 2, with a small team prototyping the studio’s next game. The game had 47,097 concurrent players on Steam at the time of writing, excluding consoles. Pilestedt says an active player community can keep a game alive without a sequel, and that Helldivers 2’s main competitor would be a new Helldivers game.
In short
- Arrowhead has no current plans for Helldivers 3.
- A sequel would need to be distinct enough to coexist with Helldivers 2.
- About 95% of the studio is still focused on Helldivers 2.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A sequel could give Arrowhead room to make substantial changes and offer players a fresh experience, while allowing Helldivers 2 to remain available for those who prefer it. If the new game were distinct enough, both could sustain communities without forcing players to abandon a game they enjoy.
The case against
Building a sequel risks dividing Helldivers’ player base and asking people to start over, weakening the shared community that helps the current game thrive. With Helldivers 2 still attracting players, continued updates could build on its momentum and serve fans better than splitting the studio’s effort across two games.
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