Summary
The CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios and creative director ofHelldivers 2, Johan Pilestedt, took to Twitter to quash rumors circulating about the game’s acquisition by PlayStation. Speculation had arisen regarding Sony’s potential acquisition of Arrowhead Game Studios, which would includeHelldivers 2in its roster of titles.
Helldivers 2, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and distributed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, emerges as a third-person shooter sequel to the 2015Helldivers. After launching in February 2024 for PlayStation 5 and Windows platforms,Helldivers 2swiftly earned acclaim and sold a million copieswithin its initial three days. Situated a century post the inaugural game,Helldivers 2thrusts players into Super Earth’s struggle against rebellious Terminids and mechanized foes known as Automatons, while immersing them in a narrative enriched by environmental cues and propaganda messages.
The rumors gained traction following speculation prompted by discussions initiated by Haothors, a leaker who earned some recognition after informing the community aboutGhost of Tsushimacoming to PC. According to the information circulating, Arrowhead Game Studios had allegedly already been acquired by Sony, with an official announcement imminent. However, Pilestedt’s swift response on Twitter clarified the situation, refuting any such acquisition plans involvingHelldivers 2and Arrowhead Game Studios.
Johan Pilestedt’s Response on Twitter
In response to the swirling rumors, Johan Pilestedt denied the claims on Twitter, stating, “This is fake… Unless I’ve missed something.” He further emphasized the inaccuracy of the rumors by dismissing a dated logo associated with the studio’s early days, clarifying that the purported acquisition news of the studio responsible forthe success ofHelldivers 2was unfounded. Following Johan Pilestedt’s clarification, leaker Haothors deleted his Twitter account with no explanation.
Adopting a third-person perspective and leaving behind split-screen co-op,Helldivers 2changes some things from its predecessor. It features Stratagems, allowing players to deploy various tools during missions, amid features like friendly fire and an armor system mimicking real firearms.Helldivers 2also features multiplayer functionality catering to up to four players, fostering cross-play between platforms, albeit lacking a single-player campaign.
This is fake… Unless I’ve missed something.
The potential acquisition ofHelldivers 2wouldn’t have been overly surprising, givenSony’s track record of strategic acquisitions of notable game studioslike Insomniac Games, Bluepoint Games, Housemarque, Firesprite, and more. As Johan Pilestedt’s response dispels the rumors surroundingHelldivers 2’s acquisition by PlayStation, the community can continue to enjoy the game without concerns of any imminent changes in ownership or exclusivity.
