Arrowhead’s community manager, Twinbeard, shared on Discord yesterday that Helldiver 2’s future patches will be more relaxed. Read on to gain insight about what he said and how this can affect the game and the dev team.
Helldivers 2 Devs, Arrowhead Studios Cites Need for Quality and Sustainability
Twinbeard Explains the Shift in Update Cadence
- [1] Image Taken From Discord
Helldivers 2 devs, Arrowhead Studios, announced yesterday their plans to slow down future patches. When asked on Discord about when the next patch will come, Community manager Twinbeard replied "When it’s done"
He noted the need for more time between updates to maintain quality, saying, "Patching a lot can easily disrupt workflow and takes more resources than you might think; it needs planning, implementing, monitoring, possible tweaking in hotfixes, etc. For this one, we prefer to stretch it out a little, hopefully with a good result."
In a different reply where Twinbeard was asked about whether patches would roll out bi-weekly or monthly instead, he explained that nothing is certain yet, "I'd say it's (something) we have to try out and get a feel for. We feel a slightly lower cadence overall will benefit both us, you, and the game."
The announcement comes after a period of rapid-fire updates that, while frequent, have not always met player expectations, especially in regards to game balance. The goal is to strike a balance where updates are still regular but not so frequent that they compromise the game's quality or the team's well-being. By taking more time between patches, Arrowhead hopes to deliver more polished and well-received content, ensuring a better experience for all Helldivers 2 players.
Navigating Challenges Amid Helldivers 2 Updates
It's difficult to imagine just what is happening within the Arrowhead studio. Just this past month, they have faced numerous challenges, including the PSN debacle and one of their community managers igniting controversy by encouraging players to leave bad reviews on Helldivers 2’s Steam page. The team has also been engaged in a continuous battle to re-list Helldivers 2 in regions affected by PlayStation's delisting, as well as facing public scrutiny over game balancing issues. These trials have undoubtedly put significant pressure on the developers.
Amidst these challenges, Arrowhead's decision to slow down the pace of updates might provide a much-needed breather for the team. The relentless push to maintain a high update cadence has taken its toll, and the developers now have the opportunity to regroup and focus on delivering quality content without the constant pressure of tight deadlines. This pause could be crucial for addressing both internal workflow disruptions and external player concerns more accurately and effectively.
Furthermore, it appears that Arrowhead's CEO, Johan Pilestedt, has finally had a chance to talk to the team about these issues, as he said he would on Twitter. This leadership intervention suggests a shift in the studio's approach, aiming to foster a healthier work environment and improve communication both within the team and with the player community. By taking this step back, Arrowhead is not only prioritizing the well-being of its developers but also ensuring that the future of Helldivers 2 is built on a foundation of thoughtful, high-quality updates that meet the expectations of its dedicated player base.
Source:
[1] Twinbeard Addresses Patch Updates
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