Helldivers 2 director agrees with balancing complaints: "It feels like every time someone finds something fun, the fun is removed"

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Conversations will be had at Arrowhead

Helldivers 2
(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

Helldivers 2's director has acknowledged that weapons nerfs have gone "too far in some areas."

Earlier this week, Helldivers 2 director Johan Pilestedt responded to a Twitter user complaining that the shooter had become "un-fun" for them, because balance changes had come "over the priority of fun." It turns out the Helldivers 2 director and Arrowhead Game Studios CEO actually agrees.

"Yeah I think we've gone too far in some areas," Pilestedt responded in the tweet below. The game director added that he'll "talk to the team about the approach to balance," although he obviously can't make any hard promises just yet. "It feels like every time someone finds something fun, the fun is removed," Pilestedt admits.

It's a pretty frank admission from the Helldivers 2 director. Arrowhead has been near-constantly tweaking and changing numerous elements in the shooter since it launched earlier this month, and that's not even limited to weapons - we recently saw explosive shrapnel be introduced to Helldivers 2 and then rapidly be removed after it caused players to kill themselves and their teammates. 

Another recent example would be the mixed messages over the Eruptor nerfs. One senior game designer said the changes to the gun were absolutely working as intended, while elsewhere, a community manager called the Eruptor changes unintended. That's one very confusing message to send to an understandably confused player base.

Balancing a live service game is obviously an incredibly difficult tightrope to walk, and it's one that Arrowhead might be changing its attitude to, depending on how conversations at the developer go.

Take a look at our Helldivers 2 Polar Patriots Warbond guide for a look over everything that just went live in the latest Warbond.

Hirun Cryer
Hirun Cryer
Freelance Writer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.