Helldivers 3 isn't in the works, because its main competitor would be... Helldivers 2
, by Thibaut
In an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, Johan Pilestedt, creative director at Arrowhead Game Studios, was asked about his teams' upcoming projects. Released in February 2024, Helldivers 2 is still receiving content updates. And that’s expected to continue for a while!
In fact, Pilestedt revealed that 95% of the studio is working on new features and fixes for Helldivers 2. Only a small group is developing prototypes for the company’s next game. Furthermore, it’s unlikely to be Helldivers 3. The Swedish company prefers to build loyalty within its community by avoiding forcing players to start from scratch on a new installment. Pilestedt also believes that a third installment would find itself in direct competition with its predecessor.
"For now, my view is that a sequel resets everything and forces players to start over [...] Some studios can treat players like a short-term cash grab. We see players as the actual engine of the game: they're the ones bringing in friends, making memes, and keeping the game alive. When you have an active community doing that, you don’t need a sequel.
The industry is panicking because the old live-service tricks don’t work anymore. And the biggest competitor to a Helldivers 3 would be Helldivers 2. It only makes sense to make a distinct sequel if it’s so different that both games can exist side by side. For now, making Helldivers 2 better every day makes way more sense than throwing away its momentum."
As a reminder, a Helldivers movie is in the works at PlayStation Productions. It’s set to be released in June 2028.
Source: rockpapershotgun.com