Arrowhead Game Studios CEO Shams Jorjani seems to have accepted an impressive Helldivers 2 challenge that requires beating Oshaune on the hardest difficulty. For as much criticism as the live-action shooter has received since launch, the team behind it has remained actively involved in the community, often fielding questions and responding to requests from fans. Now, the one Helldivers 2 boss attempts a challenge that could result in a major statement about the game's balance.
During the last two years, Helldivers 2 has had a complex relationship with difficulty, with developers wanting new ways to keep the game engaging but fans taking issue with some of their solutions. While the game has faced plenty of other, more pressing criticisms to address, the balance conversation always seems to be going on in the background. It's now clear that this topic is important enough to some fans for at least one to put their money where their mouth is and challenge Arrowhead to try things themselves.
Helldivers 2 CEO wants a big change to the armor system
Arrowhead Game Studios CEO Shams Jorjani points out one big change he'd like to see in Helldivers 2's armor system.
Arrowhead CEO seemingly attempts Helldiver 2 fans' $1,000 challenge
A recent post by Redditor Key_Complex_150 challenged all four Arrowhead developers to complete an entire operation on Oshaune on difficulty 10, rewarding them with a $1,000 donation to any charity, and now Redditors have seen that Jorjani appears to be taking it on. The CEO has regularly posted on Helldivers 2s official Discord server about the challenge and his progress in it so far. At the moment it doesn't look like he's completed it, as he mentioned after completing it at level 7 and now moving on to level 8. How he'll do on the hardest of Helldivers 2s 10 difficulty levels are unclear at this time, as is whether Jorjani is collaborating with other developers, which was another of Key_Complex_150's demands.
Balance the critics' averages
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Balance the critics' averages
Light (6) Medium (8) Hard (10)
Right now, it appears that Jorjani may be training before taking on the challenge fully. The original post required the developers to upload a video of them performing the feat without any modifications as proof, and so far Jorjani has only updated the community on Discord. Even if the CEO doesn't end up meeting all the requirements, it's a fun experiment, especially in light of how Jorjani has expressed his desire to push Helldivers 2difficulty in the past. Key_Complex_150 said that their challenge is meant to show “how good the balance of the game is”, so if the developers can't complete it, it could theoretically provide evidence that the current approach to difficulty is missing the mark. On the other hand, it may also just prove that level 10 is very difficult.
As prominent a discussion as the game's difficulty may be, Arrowhead has previously expressed that it is not its main goal. Year 2025, Helldivers 2's Creative Director said that game designers should prioritize fun over balance, arguing that too many developers spend too much time obsessing over balance rather than making an engaging and functional game. But he also went on to say that balance should follow as part of the polishing stage of development, which is there Helldivers 2 drops, now that it's been over two years since its release.
Regardless of the outcome of this challenge, it can be an encouraging sign to see the team behind the game play it. Trying things out on your own and actively communicating with fans can help Arrowhead cope Helldivers 2extreme ups and downs by putting developers in players' shoes. If nothing else, some users have enjoyed seeing Jorjani take off her CEO hat for a moment and become just another Helldivers 2 players, with some commenting that they have encountered, even accidentally killed, him in the game. What will come of it all is still uncertain, but at least it's entertaining to watch.
- Released
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February 8, 2024
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, intense violence, in-game purchases, user interaction
- Developer
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Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher
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Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
