The creators of Helldivers 2 are determined not to repeat a costly error in their next project. CEO Shams Jorjani recalls how the game’s early development suffered because too many people were involved in pre-production from the start.

Their latest release may be barely a year old, with an upcoming Xbox Series launch set to expand its audience, but fans are already speculating about what Arrowhead Game Studios will do next. While the studio has not confirmed any new projects, it admits that it took away some hard-earned lessons from developing the acclaimed co-op shooter. One key takeaway: avoid beginning pre-production with an oversized team.

Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani shared this insight during a chat with players on the Helldivers 2 Discord server (via GamesRadar+). Asked what they learned from the hit multiplayer game, he responded, “One is to start pre-production with a small team.” He added, “Helldivers 2 started with a big team, and that was ‘baaaad.'”

Jorjani didn’t give an exact number, but an Arrowhead artist revealed at the Game Developers Conference that the space shooter began with around 20 people — a number that ballooned to 130 before the game’s 2024 release. Going forward, the plan is to start lean, making it easier to share ideas and build a cohesive vision from day one.

Helldivers 3 Could Be Years Away

Does this mean Arrowhead is already planning Helldivers 3? Not at all. The studio recently addressed the idea only to clarify they have no immediate plans for a sequel. In fact, Jorjani stated they hope such a project is “many years away” since Helldivers 2 can remain active for a long time if players keep showing up.

Source: 3djuegos