As Helldivers 2 boss Johan Pilestedt hangs up his CEO hat to focus on the creative side, he has one big change in mind: 'My working theory is that time-to-kill is too high'

GamesThird Person ShooterHelldivers 2As Helldivers 2 boss Johan Pilestedt hangs up his CEO hat to focus on the creative side, he has one big change in mind: ‘My working theory is that time-to-kill is too high’When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

helldivers 2 balancing

Johan Pilestedt is no longer CEO of the studio he founded. He’s handed that job to Paradox veteran Shams Jorjani, and given himself the new title ofChief Creative Officer at Arrowhead. His goal in the new role is to be more hands-on with Helldivers 2 going forward and, in his own words, “spend MORE time with the team and 100% of my focus on the games and community.”

Indeed, Pilestedt is eager to put away his metaphorical clipboard and pick up a brush. In replies to the news on Twitter, the new CCO expressed that he’s glad to “not have to deal with HR policies and [quarterly bussiness reviews]” anymore, and said “the business side takes too much time from making games!”

With time freed up to focus on the future of Helldivers 2, Pilestedt even opened up about a few topics on his mind: interpreting player feedback, devs playing their own game, and time-to-kill.

“First thing we got to do is ensure we get more devs time playing the game. It’s hard to make the right decisions if the eyes aren’t on the road,” Pilestedtrepliedto a fan asking about reviewing feedback. “Secondly, I want to ensure we actively look at the sentiment and create a holistic view of WHY feedback is given. And my working theory is that TTK is too high.”

Pilestedt did not specify what feedback he’s referring to, but it’s likely he’s talking about a common complaint that Helldivers 2 primary weapons are too weak. Pilestedt, and Arrowhead at large, has always maintained thatprimary guns aren’t supposed to be all that powerful, as you’re meant to rely on stratagems to get the job done. But there’s a fine line between “deliberately OK” and"so boring it’s bad." Arrowhead hasn’t held back from buffing guns deemed underpowered since launch, but it has also doled out its share of nerfs. Some players reject the idea of nerfing guns in a PvE game on principle, though Arrowhead has gone on the record about why"don’t nerf, only buff" is a bad idea.

(Image credit: Johan Pilestedt via Twitter)

helldivers 2

“[The game] doesn’t have to be easier. It’s just that the weapons occasionally feel like pea shooters,” Pilestedt wrote in another reply.

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

The updated approach to Helldivers 2 balancing may go hand-in-hand with the studio’s plan to slow down the cadence of patches. If devs are to spend more time in the game they’re tasked with balancing, those hours have to come from somewhere.

Pilestedt wants “longer lasting content” in Helldivers 2

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

helldivers 2 polar patriots warbond

One more Pilestedt Twitter tidbit of note: Replying to a fan making suggestions to retain Helldivers 2’s player base, which has naturally gone down on Steam as of late with fewer updates dropping, the CCO said the game needs “longer lasting content as well.”

As sticky as Helldivers 2 has proven since February, it does not have infinite things to do. I unlocked every stratagem and most guns after 100 hours, and I’ve been playing less since then. There is nothing about Helldivers 2 that suggests it’s meant to never stop playing—in fact, its $40 price tag means Helldivers 2 should be less reliant on daily player interaction than free-to-play shooters like The Finals or Apex Legends. Fewer active players nearly four months and 12 million copies later should be considered normal.

The “longer lasting” content Pilestedt has in mind may be what comes next: Arrowhead’s long-term plan for keeping Helldivers 2 players coming back. Maybe a big twist in the war? Radically different stratagems? The long-awaited vehicle update? It wouldn’t take much to get my friends excited to jump back in.

More about third person shooterMarvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod sceneThe best part of Marvel Rivals Season 1 is Mister Fantastic’s obnoxiously fun chest-bump attack and his ridiculously OP kit

More about third person shooter

Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod sceneThe best part of Marvel Rivals Season 1 is Mister Fantastic’s obnoxiously fun chest-bump attack and his ridiculously OP kit

Marvel Rivals tier list - Wolverine

Marvel Rivals' latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod scene

Mister Fantastic mid ultimate

The best part of Marvel Rivals Season 1 is Mister Fantastic’s obnoxiously fun chest-bump attack and his ridiculously OP kit

Latest

Dead By Daylight: The Junji Ito Collection

See more latest►

Most PopularPath of Exile 2 numberlord spends 16 straight days killing rare monsters to prove that a stat that makes loot better makes better lootPalestinian developer raises more than $200,000 to make Dreams on a Pillow, a game about the horrors of the 1948 NakbaPiranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod sceneSorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our faultTeam Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40KIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anythingIf you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 offAMD is now reportedly making all-American Ryzen 9000 CPU dies at TSMC’s Arizona fabI tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at bay

Most Popular

Path of Exile 2 numberlord spends 16 straight days killing rare monsters to prove that a stat that makes loot better makes better loot

Palestinian developer raises more than $200,000 to make Dreams on a Pillow, a game about the horrors of the 1948 Nakba

Piranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’

Marvel Rivals' latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod scene

Sorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our fault

Team Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40K

Is the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.

Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anything

If you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 off

AMD is now reportedly making all-American Ryzen 9000 CPU dies at TSMC’s Arizona fab

I tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at bay

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

Pilestedt wants “longer lasting content” in Helldivers 2#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Pilestedt wants “longer lasting content” in Helldivers 2