‘Helldivers 2’ Creative Director Johan Pilestedt Says DEI Considerations ‘Distract’ From Making ‘Good Games’
by Anna Cheek
Hhelldivers 2 (Image: Arrowhead Games)
Helldivers 2 creative developer honestly replied to a question about a controversial topic in gaming culture – DEI.
Helldivers 2 surprised many with its overwhelming success after its release early last year. After selling over 10 million copies and earning a loyal following, the third-person shooter co-op game looks great in the new year.
The game’s creative director, Johan Pilestedt, took to X just minutes before the New Year and asked his followers, “With 10 minutes to 2025, what are your expectations and desires for what the next Arrowhead game will be? I am working on the high concept, but I would love to hear your speculation.” There were hundreds of responses, but one in particular gained attention as a user replied, “Never add dei to your games.”
DEI is an acronym for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and it has become a buzzword, especially within the gaming community. It has become a much-hated term within anti-woke culture, as those against DEI believe that it is a means to force progressive ideas and political opinions into entertainment, such as video games. Due to this belief amongst some gamers, DEI is now a loaded buzzword in online debates because of how passionately people react to it.
Pilestedt replied to the user, “If it doesn’t add to the game experience, it distracts. And games should be a pure pursuit of amazing moments.” With this reply, it seems that Pilestedt isn’t too concerned with DEI’s controversy and simply cares about the integrity of the game’s story and overall experience.
When another user asked, “How would DEI have benefited Helldivers 2?” He replied, “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.”
Based on these replies, Pilestedt appears indifferent about the term and the heated debates it caused on social media and would prefer to “make good games” at the end of the day. However, his reply also has a great deal of irony, as Helldivers 2 is full of satire, parodies of fascist propaganda and political allegories. So, it seems that allegorical sci-fi politics in games are not off the table at Arrowhead, but they’d rather stay out of the real world’s political controversies. And honestly, who can blame them there?
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