Helldivers 2 Creative Director Goes on Sabbatical After 11 Years 'Working Around the Clock' on the Same IP, Will Return to Work on Arrowhead’s Next Game

Helldivers 2's creative director, Johan Pilestedt, has announced a well-deserved sabbatical. Upon his return, he will shift his focus to Arrowhead's next project.

Pilestedt's tweet revealed an 11-year dedication to the Helldivers franchise, encompassing both the original 2013 title and Helldivers 2, launched in early 2016. He cited the demanding workload as a reason for his leave, stating that it impacted his personal life. He aims to prioritize his family and well-being during this break.

Arrowhead assures fans that development on Helldivers 2 will continue. Pilestedt's return will mark the commencement of work on Arrowhead's next game.

Pilestedt's prominent role followed Helldivers 2's phenomenal February 2024 launch. Despite initial challenges, the cooperative shooter achieved record-breaking sales for PlayStation Studios, selling 12 million copies within 12 weeks. This success led to a film adaptation being greenlit by Sony.

Pilestedt became the public face of Helldivers 2, actively engaging with the community across various platforms. He openly addressed both positive and negative feedback, acknowledging the increased community toxicity following the game's immense popularity. He previously highlighted the unprecedented level of threats and harassment faced by the studio's team.

Prior to Helldivers 2, Arrowhead enjoyed success with the original Helldivers and Magicka. However, Helldivers 2's massive success significantly elevated the studio's profile, bringing with it new challenges. The game's launch was marred by server issues and subsequent controversies, including Sony's initially mandatory PlayStation Network account linking for PC players, which was later reversed. These issues resulted in significant backlash, including review bombing on Steam.

Following Helldivers 2's success, Pilestedt transitioned from CEO to Chief Creative Officer to concentrate on game development and community engagement. Shams Jorjani, a veteran from Paradox Interactive, assumed the CEO role.

While details on Arrowhead's next game remain scarce, it's anticipated that its release is still some time away. Meanwhile, Arrowhead continues to support Helldivers 2 with updates, including the recent addition of a third enemy faction, the Illuminate, which has revitalized the gameplay.