(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)
Helldivers 2 might have built on the success of its 2015 predecessor, but its surprise triumph defied the industry’s major trends. Released shortly after Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which followed a Destiny-like format, Helldivers 2 bypassed the mainstream routes taken by games like Rumbleverse that have risen and fallen alongside the Fortnite phenomenon. Instead, it offered a nostalgic return to the cooperative gameplay of the Xbox 360 era.
During a 2025 Game Developers Conference (GDC) panel, Johan Pilestedt, the game’s director, addressed the industry’s frequent layoffs. He pointed out that chasing popular trends plays a significant role in these job losses, noting, “The games industry is caught in a vicious cycle of death and rebirth… because we don’t diversify enough.” The repetitive cycle of layoffs, he argued, is exacerbated by a lack of innovation rather than any profound mystery.
Pilestedt emphasized the flaws in the current approach where industry leaders aim for ‘safe’ projects, drawn by the allure of success stories like Fortnite. “A lot of publishers try to play it safe,” Pilestedt stated, “but safe bets are a death sentence… We are in the business of taking risks.” Highlighting Helldivers’ unexpected success, he remarked that ventures thought to be insignificant can indeed flourish against the odds.
Concluding his insightful presentation, Pilestedt urged the gaming industry to embrace risk-taking as a strategy to prevent widespread failures. He advised, “Make your games according to your studio’s foundational style,” recommending a focus on original concepts over mimicking others. He left the audience with a challenge: “If we want to avoid mass failures, we have to take more risks.”
In a candid admission, Pilestedt revealed that he advised players not to purchase Helldivers 2 during its launch server overloads. This prompted a rapid response from PlayStation, questioning his unconventional approach with a straightforward inquiry about his sanity amidst the chaos.