Arrowhead Game Studios has outlined an unconventional path for the future of Helldivers, confirming its intent to evolve Helldivers 2 into what could be considered Helldivers 3. Following the remarkable success of Helldivers 2, this approach aims to expand upon the game rather than follow the traditional sequel model.
Since its launch earlier this year, Helldivers 2 has become a major live-service hit, selling over 12 million copies in just four months. The game’s co-op gameplay and satirical world-building have garnered a loyal player base across PS5 and PC. However, the game has faced some hurdles, such as the controversial PSN account-linking issue on Steam and balancing issues introduced in the Escalation of Freedom update. These challenges were later addressed, and with the recent Omens of Tyranny update introducing the Illuminate faction, the game continues to thrive.
Arrowhead COO Johan Pilestedt recently hinted at the studio’s plans for a Helldivers 3 in response to a fan’s inquiry on social media. Pilestedt dismissed certain ideas, like swimming mechanics, but left the door open for other possibilities, such as increasing the co-op player limit to eight. He confirmed that Arrowhead’s strategy is to expand Helldivers 2 through updates until it effectively becomes Helldivers 3.
This strategy signals a commitment to significant upgrades, potentially including foundational changes like moving away from the game’s current engine, Autodesk Stingray, which was discontinued in 2018. Transitioning to a more modern engine could enhance the game’s scalability, improve development workflows, and enable the studio to onboard more developers.
Switching game engines is a complex process, as seen in examples like Fortnite, which migrated from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5 in 2022. While this move could bring substantial benefits to Helldivers 2 and even the coming Helldivers 3, it remains uncertain whether such a transition is feasible for Arrowhead’s project.
With these plans, Arrowhead aims to keep Helldivers 2 fresh and relevant for years to come, paving the way for it to evolve into its envisioned sequel without the need for a traditional release.
