Helldivers 2, it could appear, is having stability issues. As fellow PC Gamer author Morgan Park famous final week, the most important replace Escalation of Freedom, whereas bringing loads of cool new options to the sport, has additionally set all the pieces on hearth. Once more.
Just like the stability Ides of March, Helldivers 2 has been wrestling continuously with its stability philosophy for the reason that recreation got here out. That is even supposing then-CEO (now CCO) Johan Pilestedt wrote in Could “it appears like each time somebody finds one thing enjoyable, the enjoyable is eliminated.” Whereas guarantees for greater and higher patches have materialised, the change to number-tweaking methods and a decrease time-to-kill, broadly-speaking, haven’t.
The studio’s new CEO, Shams Jorjani, has been taking to each Twitter and the sport’s Discord to share his two tremendous credit on the scenario and—for probably the most half—has maintained an admirably cool head about all of it, remarking that he prefers to listen to individuals impassioned slightly than “not giving a sh*t”.
His replies on Discord, nevertheless, paint an fascinating image: Certainly one of a studio racing to maintain up with the calls for of that loud and impassioned playerbase. Jorjani writes: “I have never spoken to everybody after all—however many people are disillusioned on just a few ranges … I believe numerous you, pretty level out ‘wtf—we went by way of this earlier this yr. Why are we right here once more'”.
The issues, he goes on to stipulate, have so much to do with scale, the lead on improvement occasions, and Arrowhead’s relative inexperience working a reside service recreation within the trendy period—expertise it’s gaining now, presently, the laborious means.
“We’ve got lengthy lead occasions on improvement. What you see is the results of weeks and months of improvement work. Some adjustments take time earlier than they present … not a complete lot of time has handed between now and the June stability spherical and most of the people are nonetheless on trip.”
Nonetheless, he provides, this should not be taken as merely making excuses and tidying the entire thing away a second time. “We nonetheless want to enhance so much in understanding what gamers need and marry that to the event course of. We wish each launch to be a step in the correct path. Fixed enchancment. I do not assume we really feel this was that. So we have to do higher. However it’s additionally clear that me simply speaking about it is not sufficient. Actions matter.”
In a later message, he provides that “[being] brutally sincere, the corporate hasn’t launched a recreation in 8 years. Final time I am certain there have been many numerous voices—however nowhere close to the identical as right this moment.” This, he notes, is “most likely the most important purpose for our many missteps”.
He additionally echoes what Pilestedt famous some time again—that the typical time to put low the enemies of democracy remains to be too excessive: “I do not assume it is JUST a matter of buffing weapons”, he notes, wanting gamers to have entry to the correct instruments for the job slightly than an expansion of overpowered bug-blasters, “however we nonetheless have an autocannon mech that wants like 20 rounds earlier than it kills a Bile Titan. So we’re not there but.”
On the very least, these are promising phrases to return from management—however they’re, admittedly, phrases that Helldivers 2 gamers have heard earlier than. Wanting on the recreation’s subreddit, the response has been significantly harsh: “That is precisely what Pilestedt stated earlier than stepping down from CEO to ‘set issues proper.’ But right here we’re once more,” writes one participant, with one other asking “has anybody informed the CEO of AH that he’s the CEO of AH?”
Equally, a ballot on the sport’s Discord—with over 68,000 respondents—confirmed that almost all of gamers are dissatisfied or feeling impartial concerning the patch itself, with 26% gamers responding “it is good”, 36% gamers responding “it is unhealthy”, and 39% responding “I am impartial / unsure.”
I do not envy Arrowhead’s job right here, and whereas I believe it is effectively and good to take heed to your group, merely spreading your arms large to a tidal wave and saying ‘share with me your considerations!’ is just going to finish up a technique. Then again, it is irritating even at a distance to see Arrowhead spinning round in the identical ditch. Progress is gradual for builders, however can really feel prefer it takes an age for gamers. Fingers crossed that liberty’s flag will fly excessive as soon as once more.
