“We didn’t design the game for Call of Duty players. But six million of them bought it,” said Shams Jorjani, CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios. Even the developers of Helldivers 2 were astonished to see that so many fans of Activision’s franchise picked up their co-op shooter.

Upon launch, Helldivers 2 was not seen as a breakout title. Its frenetic gameplay, demanding coordination, and chaotic enemy waves didn’t exactly scream mass appeal. But the game’s high-stakes strategy, satirical edge, and punishing difficulty struck a chord with millions—some of whom came straight from big-budget shooters like Call of Duty. Ironically, Arrowhead never intended to attract that crowd.

Speaking to The Game Business, Shams Jorjani explained that the game was built for a very different demographic—players who embraced complexity, not instant gratification. Still, the numbers don’t lie: six million Call of Duty players decided to dive into the Helldivers universe. “Helldivers wasn’t made for that audience at all.”

“But here we are—six million CoD fans bought it. And they’re interested in totally different things than those who came from Escape from Tarkov or Arma, two of our core inspirations.” That influx caused challenges of its own. “We called it ‘the summer of pain.’ So many voices, all demanding different things. It became a nightmare to keep the game balanced.”

Arrowhead Acknowledges They’re Playing in a New League

Jorjani noted that the expectations have drastically changed despite being the same team as a year ago. “A year ago we were in the third division. Now we’re in the Champions League. It’s surreal. We’re being held to completely different standards.” He continued: “We need to grow into this new position, quickly. And I know what unchecked growth can do—it can destroy you.”

Source: 3djuegos