Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead has addressed participant complaints concerning the pricing of the lately launched Killzone crossover, insisting it’s the driving power behind the choice making, not Sony.
Half one of many Helldivers 2 and Killzone crossover features a Killzone-themed armor set, assault rifle, banner, cape, and participant title. If you would like all of the Killzone objects you’ll have to hand over Tremendous Credit to the worth of almost twice the price of a premium Warbond, and almost half the value 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 group even additional.
“Firstly – that is our first collaboration so we’ll be figuring it out as we go alongside,” Jorjani started. “Tell us what you want to see sooner or later. Secondly it is non-obligatory – the extra of this we promote – the extra Illuminate kind stuff we will preserve dropping for free.”
That remark specifically didn’t go down effectively, with gamers mentioning that Helldivers 2 isn’t a free recreation and due to this fact shouldn’t take a free-to-play pricing technique.
Persevering with to put out fires, Jorjani mentioned the pricing backlash was mentioned throughout Arrowhead’s month-to-month townhall assembly on Wednesday, and promised the studio was taking a look at 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 group.
“Clearly we would love to discover the candy spot of individuals loving the content material AND the value and purchase the bajeesus out of it,” Jorjani added. “This clearly did not hit that mark.”
Whereas the pricing of the Killzone objects has hit the headlines, followers are additionally expressing concern on the FOMO related to their limited-time sale. Half 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 mentioned that working Helldivers 2 was “laborious,” 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 mentioned. “We’re doing our greatest. Typically we fumble. I believe we have proven that we are going to persevere and enhance issues sooner or later. I perceive you want 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 puzzled whether or not the Killzone pricing was compelled upon Arrowhead by writer and IP proprietor Sony. In any case, Sony has a controversial relationship with Arrowhead and Helldivers 2 gamers following the corporate’s choice to power PC players to hyperlink to a PSN account to play. Even now, Helldivers 2 stays unavailable to play within the many international locations wherein Sony doesn’t assist PSN accounts.
Nevertheless, Jorjani insisted that within the case of the Killzone merchandise pricing, Arrowhead was in cost. “It’s a partnership [with Sony],” he mentioned, “however we’re within the driving seat behind the selections. This one is on us.”
In the meantime, gamers have puzzled whether or not the Killzone crossover was meant to be offered as a premium Warbond (Helldivers 2’s tackle a battle cross of types), given leaks prior to its announcement and launch advised as a lot. Taking to Twitter to reply to additional complaints from followers, Arrowhead CCO Johan Pilestedt confirmed the Warbond concept, and defined why it was modified to particular person merchandise gross sales on the in-game retailer.
“The rationale we modified it from a Warbond was often because there have been issues that having a better priced Warbond would carry adverse sentiment.”
It seems that adverse sentiment hit the studio anyway, some extent made to Pilestedt. “We simply need to create nice experiences which are sustainable for years to come,” he countered. “As a part of that, we’d like to work out how to make HD2 financially sustainable in the long run.”
Ideas now flip to the discharge of half two of the Killzone crossover subsequent week. Will Arrowhead regulate the pricing in response to the backlash, or stick to its weapons? We’ll discover out on December 23.
Wesley is the UK Information Editor for IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You possibly can attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.