Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead has addressed participant complaints in regards to the pricing of the just lately launched Killzone crossover, insisting it’s the driving power behind the choice making, not Sony.
Part one of many Helldivers 2 and Killzone crossover features a Killzone-themed armor set, assault rifle, banner, cape, and participant title. If you need all of the Killzone objects you’ll have at hand over Super Credits to the worth of practically twice the price of a premium Warbond, and practically half the worth of Helldivers 2 itself.
Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani took to the Helldivers Discord to reply questions with various success, at factors angering the studio’s neighborhood even additional.
“Firstly – that is our first collaboration so we’ll be figuring it out as we go alongside,” Jorjani started. “Let us know what you’d wish to see sooner or later. Secondly it is non-obligatory – the extra of this we promote – the extra Illuminate kind stuff we will hold dropping without cost.”
That remark particularly didn’t go down effectively, with gamers mentioning that Helldivers 2 isn’t a free recreation and subsequently mustn’t take a free-to-play pricing technique.
Continuing to place out fires, Jorjani stated the pricing backlash was mentioned throughout Arrowhead’s month-to-month townhall assembly on Wednesday, and promised the studio was how effectively the objects had been promoting, whether or not or not they had been getting used, and suggestions to get a way of the “gripes” from the neighborhood.
“Clearly we would love to seek out the candy spot of individuals loving the content material AND the worth and purchase the bajeesus out of it,” Jorjani added. “This clearly did not hit that mark.”
While the pricing of the Killzone objects has hit the headlines, followers are additionally expressing concern on the FOMO related to their limited-time sale. Part considered one of this Killzone crossover will solely be obtainable in Helldivers 2’s in-game retailer for 5 days earlier than it’s rotated out.
Jorjani then stated that operating Helldivers 2 was “arduous,” and admitted the studio has by no means run a giant dwell service recreation earlier than. “The final launch Arrowhead had was in 2015 and the studio was a lot smaller,” he stated. “We’re doing our greatest. Sometimes we fumble. I believe we have proven that we are going to persevere and enhance issues sooner or later. I perceive you need us to by no means fumble – however I can not promise you we’ll hit our mark each time.”
Amid the backlash, some followers had questioned whether or not the Killzone pricing was compelled upon Arrowhead by writer and IP proprietor Sony. After all, Sony has a controversial relationship with Arrowhead and Helldivers 2 gamers following the corporate’s determination to power PC avid gamers to hyperlink to a PSN account to play. Even now, Helldivers 2 stays unavailable to play within the many nations through which Sony doesn’t assist PSN accounts.
However, Jorjani insisted that within the case of the Killzone merchandise pricing, Arrowhead was in cost. “It’s a partnership [with Sony],” he stated, “however we’re within the driving seat behind the choices. This one is on us.”
Meanwhile, gamers have questioned whether or not the Killzone crossover was meant to be offered as a premium Warbond (Helldivers 2’s tackle a battle move of types), given leaks previous to its announcement and launch recommended as a lot. Taking to Twitter to reply to additional complaints from followers, Arrowhead CCO Johan Pilestedt confirmed the Warbond idea, and defined why it was modified to particular person merchandise gross sales on the in-game retailer.
“The motive we modified it from a Warbond was usually because there have been considerations that having a better priced Warbond would carry destructive sentiment.”
It seems that destructive sentiment hit the studio anyway, a degree made to Pilestedt. “We simply need to create nice experiences which can be sustainable for years to come back,” he countered. “As a part of that, we have to work out how one can make HD2 financially sustainable in the long run.”
Thoughts now flip to the discharge of half two of the Killzone crossover subsequent week. Will Arrowhead modify the pricing in response to the backlash, or follow its weapons? We’ll discover out on December 23.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
