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(Image credit: PlayStation Publishing LLC)
Pilestedt’s initial statement came in response to a user on X who urged him to “never add DEI”—an acronym for diversity, equity, and inclusion that’s become a high-profile bugbear for the anti-woke crowd—in future Arrowhead games. “If it doesn’t add to the game experience, it detracts,” Pilestedtwrote. “And games should be a pure pursuit of amazing moments.”
Shortly after, replying to another question about how DEI would have benefitted Helldivers 2, hecontinued, “I don’t like labels. But mankind is united in its extreme xenophobia on Super Earth. #Inclusion so, maybe that’s DEI? I really don’t care. Make good games, don’t make a contemporary political statement.”
(Image credit: Johan Pilestedt (Twitter))
Some on X pointed out the obvious disconnect, but of course others glommed onto it as proof that their efforts against DEI, “wokeness,” and other such culture wars nonsense are bearing fruit. Unsurprisingly, Pilestedt attempted to clarify his point earlier today, saying he was referring to actions and statements made “outside the theme of the game.”
It’s possible some linguistic nuance is being lost as Pilestedt seemingly attempts to walk the “keep everyone happy” tightrope, but there’s still an element of “don’t be political” to his attempt at clarification that stands in sharp contrast to the game itself.
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Further confusing his follow-up, Pilestedt took the opportunity to invoke yet another culture wars hot point,sayingthat “cancel culture is one of the worst sides of online interaction.”
“[In the game] freeing America is the first step to freeing the world,” Hines said at the time. “So the idea of #NoMoreNazis in America is, in fact, what the entire game (and franchise) is about. Our campaign leans into that sentiment, and it unfortunately happens to highlight current events in the real world.”
Ironically, some of the people who would presumably be happy about Pilestedt’s “don’t do politics” statement remain deeply unhappy with him because the Helldivers 2 Discord moderators continue to keep a tight lid on the disruptive discourse that has turned X into such a sewer.
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