Helldivers 2 fans criticize Arrowhead for excessive pricing on Killzone-themed content; CEO defends strategy: “The more we sell, the more free Illuminate-type content we can provide.”

Helldivers 2 seems to be taking two steps forward and one step back. Less than a week after unveiling the surprise Omens of Tyranny update at The Game Awards, Arrowhead has introduced another unexpected addition—though this time, it’s not as thrilling. The game now features Killzone-themed armor, cosmetics, and a Helghast gun, which is undeniably cool, but their price tag is causing an uproar. These items cost three times more than usual and are unavailable through warbonds.

This Killzone-themed drop is notable for being Helldivers 2’s first crossover event—a move Arrowhead aims to expand on where thematically fitting (and Killzone certainly fits). However, it also signals a steep escalation in Arrowhead’s monetization approach. Alongside the recent Superstore-exclusive stun baton, this marks the first time Helldivers 2 has sold weapons—arguably the game’s most prized items—outside of the battle pass-style warbond system.

Arrowhead has embraced the trend of using crossovers as a reason to hike prices, often doubling or tripling them. For example, the StA-52 Assault Rifle alone is priced at 615 Super Credits (SC), equivalent to around $6-7. In comparison, a typical warbond—which includes multiple armor sets, weapons, and other cosmetics—costs $10.

“615 SC for a primary weapon is straight-up ridiculous,” wrote Reddit user Goopmaster_ in a top-rated post on the Helldivers subreddit. “I understand the game needs monetization, and developers don’t work for free, but charging half the price of a warbond for an optic-less assault rifle is absurd.”

Players are also upset about the 500 SC Helghast armor set, which comes with a unique “Acclaimed” passive ability granting 50% damage resistance to gas, acid, and electric attacks—a significant advantage. Typically, Superstore-exclusive armor offers perks similar to those available via warbonds, but not this time.

“This is an outrageously strong passive locked behind the most expensive armor to date,” lamented Redditor TraumaTracer.

The total price for all six Helghast items is a hefty 1,975 SC—nearly the equivalent of two full warbonds.

Timing has also raised eyebrows. Shortly after the Omens of Tyranny update launched, dataminers uncovered references to future warbonds, including a Killzone-themed “Righteous Revenants” bundle. The items in this bundle’s artwork are identical to those now sold exclusively in the Superstore.

Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani addressed the criticism during a rare appearance on the Helldivers Discord server:

“Quick comment on the Helghast items. This is our first collaboration, so we’re figuring things out as we go. Let us know what you’d like to see in the future,” Jorjani wrote. “Also, it’s optional. The more of this we sell, the more Illuminate-type stuff we can keep dropping for free.”

This explanation hasn’t satisfied many fans. The issue isn’t whether the Helghast items are optional—it’s their cost, which Jorjani didn’t directly address. Arrowhead has spent the past year emphasizing that warbonds help fund free updates to the Galactic War system. Now, Jorjani’s comments linking new “Illuminate-type stuff” to overpriced items—described as “nonsense” by Goopmaster_—feel like a bait-and-switch to many players.

In a follow-up, Jorjani clarified: “My point was that the better the game performs, the more content we can produce.”

While true, fans argue this sets a worrying precedent. Helldivers 2 has long been celebrated as one of the more reasonably monetized games, offering substantial free updates, consistent $10 packs packed with content, and a rotating Superstore with affordable cosmetics. The Killzone crossover upends this balance, shifting focus to the Superstore’s limited-time exclusives and creating urgency to buy items before they disappear in five days.

Arrowhead isn’t doing anything unheard of in live-service gaming, but that’s precisely the problem. By adopting the same tactics as other live-service games, Arrowhead risks alienating players. Meanwhile, Helldivers 2 remains a $40 game with $90 worth of warbonds.

Jorjani continues to engage with fans on Discord. His latest comment acknowledges that the Killzone pack’s reception has been less than ideal:

“Clearly, we’d love to find the sweet spot where people love both the content and the price and buy the hell out of it. Clearly, we missed that mark this time.”

Source: PC Gamer