Helldivers 2's incredible journey has been capped off with two prestigious BAFTA Game Awards: Best Multiplayer and Best Music, out of five nominations. These accolades mark the end of a successful awards season for the Swedish developer Arrowhead, highlighting what has been a remarkable year for them.
It's worth recalling that Helldivers 2 became the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game ever, with an astounding 12 million copies sold within just 12 weeks. This record-breaking achievement is unlikely to be surpassed by any other first-party Sony-developed game. Since its explosive launch, the game has faced numerous challenges, including a controversial reversal on PSN account requirements on Steam, review-bomb campaigns, and a community often at odds with the game itself due to fluctuating nerfs and buffs.
Throughout these trials, Arrowhead has grappled with managing a significantly larger and more mainstream playerbase than ever before. Now, 14 months after Helldivers 2's release on PC and PlayStation 5, Arrowhead is reflecting on the past and assessing its progress in navigating the demanding landscape of live-service gaming. Following their collaboration with Killzone, speculation is rife about a potential partnership with Warhammer 40,000.
IGN had the opportunity to sit down with Alex Bolle, the production director of Helldivers 2, to delve deeper into these topics and more.