Arrowhead CCO Johan Pilestedt: No Helldivers 3 Anytime Soon, If Ever — Studio Focuses on Helldivers 2 Live Service

Helldivers 2 has become a massive hit for developer Arrowhead and publisher Sony, but fans shouldn't hold their breath for a third installment. In an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, Arrowhead chief creative officer Johan Pilestedt explained that a sequel would reset "everything" and force players to "start over," something he's unwilling to ask of the community. Instead, the studio will double down on the existing game, treating players as "the actual engine of the game" rather than a "short-term cash grab." Pilestedt criticized the industry's panic over live-service models, noting that "old live-service tricks don't work anymore." He argued that any hypothetical Helldivers 3 would have to be highly differentiated to coexist with Helldivers 2, which is currently its own biggest competitor. "It only makes sense to make a distinct sequel if it’s so different that both games can exist side by by side," he said. Right now, 95% of Arrowhead's team is working on Helldivers 2, with only a small group exploring the studio's next project. Meanwhile, a Helldivers movie is in the works, with Alan Ritchson replacing Jason Momoa as the lead. For now, Arrowhead's focus is clear: keep Helldivers 2 alive and thriving.