Industry body IAMAI on Friday "advised" Google not to delist any apps from Google Play, after the tech titan sent out a clear warning that it will remove apps not complying with Play store billing policies.
Helldivers 2 Says 'We Really Applied Ourselves to Not Make It Pay-to-Win'
12.02.2024 - 16:47 / ign.com / Johan Pilestedt
The boss of Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead has discussed the game’s microtransactions, insisting the game is not ‘pay-to-win.’
Helldivers 2 is a $39.99 co-op shooter in which players team up to battle alien bugs and terrifying automatons. It’s gone down particularly well with players, becoming Sony’s biggest ever launch on PC after hitting at least 360,000 peak concurrent players across PlayStation 5 and Steam.
However, there is some debate about Helldivers 2’s monetisation. The game features a free and premium battle pass, both of which include items that affect gameplay. Some weapons and armour, for example, are restricted to the $9.99 premium battle pass. There are also gameplay-affecting items available for direct purchase via a virtual currency bought with real-world money. The in-game shop rotates what’s for sale each day, so there is an element of fear of missing out (FOMO) at play here.
It’s important to note, however, that Helldivers 2’s virtual currency (medals, super credits etc) can be obtained purely through gameplay, although doing so can be painfully slow. It’s also worth pointing out that Helldivers 2 is a pure co-op game for up to four players. There is no player-versus-player mode.
Still, that hasn’t stopped some from suggesting there’s a whiff of “pay-to-win” about Helldivers 2. Enter Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt, who took to Twitter / X to address the concern. “I'm partial but we really applied ourselves to not make it p2w even though items are functionally different,” he said. “The only item that's p2w is the revolver - which will win you any ‘cool gun’ competition. Only (minor) problem is that it's not that good.”
Then, responding to another user, Pilestedt said: "You have to earn the right to monetize." “I truly believe that,” he continued. “If people want to support this title they have an option, but we are never forcing anyone to do so.”
Generally speaking, Helldivers 2 players are in agreement. Indeed, after a rough launch, Steam users have given it a ‘mostly positive’ user review rating. PS5 reviews are similarly positive.
Where there is no doubt that Helldivers 2 is struggling is with login issues and progression not tracking properly. Pilestedt issued an apology to players and explained how servers had struggled to cope with the onslaught of players. Meanwhile, Helldivers 2 players have already established an “unspoken” co-op etiquette.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
The website gametalkz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Authors
Popular Topics
ign.com
28.02.2024 / 15:53
Helldivers 2 Dev Says Farmers Are Okay, They’re Not Hurting the War Effort — but They're Not Helping, Either
After the Helldivers 2 community had rounded on farmers for negatively impacting the game’s galaxy-wide war against alien bugs and bots, developer Arrowhead has clarified their traitorous actions are in fact harmless.
screenrant.com
28.02.2024 / 13:15
Baldur's Gate 3: How To Solve The Statue Plaque Puzzle In Reithwin
is abundant with intricate puzzles, complex riddles, and investigative quests, the sheer volume of which may initially seem overwhelming to many. Yet, the game offers a rewarding experience for enthusiasts of problem-solving tasks. In Act 2, the eerie Reithwin Town presents a daunting atmosphere, especially around the ominous statue depicting General Ketheric Thorm. For those up to the challenge, solving the statue's plaque puzzle will allow them to access a Sharite Sanctuary, full of worthy spoils and riches.
gamingbolt.com
27.02.2024 / 12:49
Helldivers 2 Sales More Than Doubled in the US in its Second Week
It’s fair to say that not even in their wildest dreams, Sony or developer Arrowhead Game Studios could have anticipated that Helldivers 2 would have enjoyed the level of success that it has. In spite of server issues and persistent connectivity problems that have only just now started easing up, the co-op shooter has attracted a sizeable playerbase.
eurogamer.net
26.02.2024 / 12:21
Helldivers 2 UK boxed sales grow again week-on-week
Helldivers 2 continues to do well here in the UK, with boxed sales growing 20 percent in its third week on the market thanks to the game's positive reception.
ign.com
26.02.2024 / 10:41
Helldivers 2 Servers Handled All Players Over the Weekend ‘Without Problem’, Dev Now Returns to ‘Original Plan’
The developer of Helldivers 2 has declared the weekend just gone a success, insisting the game’s servers handled all players “without problem”.
gamingbolt.com
26.02.2024 / 05:51
Helldivers 2 Ranks Fourth in UK Physical Charts After Rare Sales Increase
Last week’s UK physical charts from Gfk saw Mario vs. Donkey Kong take the top spot while Skull and Bones disappointed (despite debuting in fourth). GamesIndustry head Christopher Dring reported on Twitter that the former dropped to third due to a 62 percent sales decrease while the latter fell to 16th due to a 68 percent drop. However, there’s the curious case of Helldivers 2.
ign.com
23.02.2024 / 12:37
Helldivers 2 Patch 1.000.12 Raises Server Cap to 700,000 Concurrents as Dev Braces Itself for the Weekend
Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead has raised the game’s server cap to a whopping 700,000 concurrent users as it braces itself for another weekend of massive player numbers.
ign.com
22.02.2024 / 14:17
Helldivers 2 Was Built on a Discontinued Engine — ‘Our Crazy Engineers Had to Do Everything’
PlayStation 5 and Steam hit Helldivers 2 was built on an engine that was discontinued after work on the game began.
screenrant.com
21.02.2024 / 20:55
Is Helldivers 2 Really Pay-To-Win? Battle Pass & Microtransactions Explained
Despite the generally positive reception of , some aspects of the game's monetization have drawn accusations of being pay-to-win, on top of the game's standard $40 price tag. Like many other online service games aiming for continuous support and updates, includes a number of microtransactions that can grant access to additional in-game items. Unlike most other games of its type, however, offers items that can have tangible gameplay effects, as opposed to just selling extra cosmetics.
gamesradar.com
21.02.2024 / 00:24
Xbox isn't giving up on discs yet, Phil Spencer says: "Our strategy does not hinge on people moving all-digital"
Even with its continued push for Game Pass, Xbox has no intention of fully abandoning disc-based games, according to Microsoft Gaming boss Phil Spencer.
screenrant.com
20.02.2024 / 01:07
New Helldivers 2 Stratagem Is Going To Make The Game Even Cooler
has a lot of interesting mechanics and techniques to set it apart from other third-person shooters, but there's an addition coming that could send things to the next level. As a sequel to an acclaimed top-down shooter about violently spreading "" throughout the galaxy, builds on an acclaimed legacy despite shifting up the gameplay perspective. Not every concept included in the original game has made it into the sequel, but the introduction of one particularly exciting component is only a matter of time.