Arrowhead CEO Responds to Criticism and Lessons of Humility from Reddit. Helldivers 2 May Get Test Server

Table of Contents:

Subjective fun problem
Diablo 4’s example
Exaggerated reactions
Reddit and the humility of Arrowhead’s CEO
Fire-themed warbond and flaming survey

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen my fair share of game updates that either made me dance for joy or left me scratching my head in disbelief. The recent developments surrounding Helldivers 2 have definitely fallen into the latter category.

In response to player feedback about the less-than-satisfactory release of Escalation of Freedom, the creators behind Helldivers 2 are contemplating setting up test servers for the game, as suggested by Shams Jorjani, CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios, in a post.

The Swedish leader has chosen to mimic the behavior of the studio’s former CEO (now overseeing the team behind Helldivers 2, but also enjoying some time off) by being highly engaged on social media following the major update. Moreover, it seems that Jorjani is earnestly addressing criticisms and soliciting feedback concerning the sources of dissatisfaction, rather than merely aiming to pacify the situation.

Credit is due to numerous posts made by the CEO of Arrowhead Studio, particularly the one on Discord where Jorjani acknowledges the need for the team to rebuild the shattered trust of the players, as well as other communications in which he delivers detailed assurances.

Subjective fun problem

In one post, Jorjani addressed the problem with criticism of Helldivers 2 updates “spoiling the fun,” primarily in the context of weapon nerfs. The developer emphasized that “fun” is a highly subjective thing. Some players will prefer a significant challenge, while others prioritize relatively carefree clashes with hordes of aliens over “realism” and balance.

As an enthusiastic fan, I’m sharing that the leader of AGS emphasizes the need for the developers of HD 2 to intensify their efforts in crafting gameplay experiences catered to diverse play styles. This insight comes from a recent Discord update, and it seems test servers are high on Arrowhead Game Studios’ wishlist, aiming to make the game more adaptable and enjoyable for players like us.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=-53843

Diablo 4’s example

It’s possible that Helldivers 2, similar to Diablo 4 under Blizzard, might adapt a similar strategy. Initially, the game seemed to lack a Public Test Realm (PTR), a feature common in other games. However, following a less-than-favorable response to its 3rd season, the developers responded to player demands and threats. This led to the implementation of Loot Reborn, which proved to be a success. The current Season of Infernal Hordes has also garnered positive feedback (as per recent reviews).

As a dedicated player of HD 2, I’ve been vocal about my desire for a specific feature that the game has yet to implement. This request was echoed by many others in the gaming community, long before some players decided to step away due to the persistent weapon weakening (a common complaint voiced on Reddit). Recently, with the latest update titled “Escalation of Freedom,” certain weapons, particularly flamethrowers, have been nerfed again. This move, coupled with too few buffs, has likely increased the number of people who support this idea.

Exaggerated reactions

Absolutely, these tests are primarily designed to gather players’ feedback to prevent the introduction of contentious concepts. Yet, an additional benefit is that they can serve as a means to evaluate the impact of potential changes, which in turn could help mitigate unwarranted responses to game balancing adjustments (nerfs).

In most of the feedback, people are expressing concerns about the modifications made to the game’s equilibrium, despite the fact that the overwhelming negative responses towards HD 2’s latest version are due to problems outside of the gameplay itself. The alteration that reduced the power of the SG-225ZP shotgun (Breaker Incendiary) in update 01.001.002 has garnered a lot of negative comments.

Some critics argue that their concerns about the SG-225ZP aren’t primarily due to its perceived weakening, but rather because they feel the developers haven’t kept their promises (with the developer who mentioned moving away from “killing fun” possibly not involved in the update process).

Although it’s clear that this particular weapon is effective against bugs during quick tests with players, some gamers don’t find this point convincing when debating potential nerfs, as indicated by comments under a specific Reddit post.

Reddit and the humility of Arrowhead’s CEO

Jorjani proposes that statistics about the usage of particular weapons by gamers should be openly shared (through Discord). This way, players can access the specific data that influenced the game developers, even though the “usage” might not be compelling evidence to every fan.

Additionally, the CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios has mentioned several less specific ideas regarding this matter. According to Jorjani, he has been inundated with more than 200 tweets on this topic (via X) as of yesterday. Furthermore, he emphasized that the studio is actively engaging in conversations about the current state of affairs.

Additionally, Jorjani noted that, much like before, Reddit left him feeling humbled, specifically in response to the post featuring his comment, along with a chart depicting unfavorable ratings on Steam.

Fire-themed warbond and flaming survey

It should be added that a new Warbond was released today, Freedom’s Flame. This pass introduces fiery weapons (ironically, considering the changes in flame behavior).

The developers additionally utilized this occasion to corroborate discussions within the studio about player feedback on the “adjustment” for fire behavior (through Discord). Users on Discord can also contribute to a survey evaluating “Escalation of Freedom.” At present, opinions are diverse after tallying more than 13,000 votes.

2024-08-08 16:32