Arrowhead Game Studios
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Evening Reading - October 26, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of industry news, including a review of Phantom Blade Zero, a delay for Emberville's Early Access release, and Skydance launching a voluntary buyout program. It also touches on OpenAI facing a lawsuit from Texas and the bankruptcy of Finnish esports organization ENCE. Microsoft is offering voluntary exit buyouts to employees, while Arrowhead Game Studios is focusing on Helldivers 2 over a potential Helldivers 3.
Helldivers 2 celebrates Liberty Day with a free gun, accidentally locks out tons of players with its new anti-cheat
Helldivers 2 is celebrating Liberty Day with in-game decorations and a new weapon, the AR-23L Liberator Legacy. However, many PC players are unable to access the game due to issues with the recently implemented Easy Anti-Cheat software, causing widespread frustration within the community.
Arrowhead Game Studios isn't likely to make Helldivers 3 while Helldivers 2 is popular
Arrowhead Game Studios is unlikely to develop Helldivers 3 while Helldivers 2 remains popular, according to Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt. The studio is focusing its resources on Helldivers 2 content and updates, with a small team prototyping future projects. Pilestedt suggested that if Helldivers 3 is made, it would need to be significantly different to avoid splitting the player base.
Why There Won’t Be A Helldivers 3 Anytime Soon, If Ever
Arrowhead Game Studios' Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt stated that a sequel to the popular Helldivers 2 is unlikely in the near future, as the studio prefers to focus on continuously updating the existing game rather than forcing players to start over. Pilestedt believes the live-service model, when done correctly by valuing the community, is more sustainable than relying on sequels. He also noted that the biggest competitor to a potential Helldivers 3 would be Helldivers 2 itself, suggesting a sequel would need to be significantly different to coexist.
Helldivers 3 Isn’t On The Cards at the Moment, Per Arrowhead’s Chief Creative Officer
Arrowhead Game Studios' Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt stated that Helldivers 3 is not currently in development, with the vast majority of the team focused on Helldivers 2. He believes that continuing to evolve Helldivers 2 as a 'lifelong hobby' is more beneficial than a sequel that would reset player progress.
Helldivers 3 "only makes sense" if it’s so unlike Helldivers 2 "that both games can exist side by side", says Arrowhead boss, discussing their new prototype game
Arrowhead Game Studios' Johan Pilestedt stated that a Helldivers 3 would only be developed if it significantly differed from Helldivers 2, to allow both games to coexist. He emphasized that 95% of the studio is focused on improving Helldivers 2, viewing it as a long-term community platform rather than a product needing an immediate sequel. Pilestedt also commented on the broader industry trend of live service games, suggesting that a strong existing player base negates the need for a sequel.
"What if Larian had shut down after Divine Divinity?": Star Trek Online exec scorns publishers who close teams like BioWare in favour of "AAA veteran" start-ups and AI "magic beans"
Star Trek Online executive producer Thomas Marrone criticizes the industry practice of shutting down established development teams in favor of new studios led by "AAA veterans" or relying on emerging technologies like AI. He argues this approach is irresponsible and self-sabotaging, highlighting that successful studios like Larian and Blizzard often achieve breakthroughs after multiple titles and years of team collaboration. Marrone suggests that publishers prioritizing short-term financial gains should exit game development entirely.
Helldivers 2 swaps over to Easy anti-cheat, with developers admitting Gameguard "wasn't as effective as it could have been"
Arrowhead Game Studios is switching Helldivers 2 from GameGuard to Easy Anti-Cheat, admitting the former was not effective. This change is expected to better protect fair gameplay, though some non-malicious mods may need to be updated to function with the new system.
Helldivers 2 is getting new anti-cheat, targeting "modifications that create unfair advantages" – but the community argues these gameplay mods are only used to target glitches the devs haven't fixed
Arrowhead Studios is implementing Easy Anti-Cheat into Helldivers 2 to combat unfair modifications, a move that has been met with community backlash. Players argue that some gameplay mods are used to fix existing glitches and improve the game experience, rather than create unfair advantages.
Helldivers 2 Introduces Easy Anti-Cheat, Balance Changes and Fixes for Bugs, Crashes in New Update
Arrowhead Game Studios has released a new update for Helldivers 2, introducing Easy Anti-Cheat and additional security tools to improve game integrity. The patch also addresses numerous bugs and crashes, enhances stability with DirectX 12 support, and implements significant balance changes to weapons and stratagems based on community feedback. Performance optimizations for CPU and GPU have also been included.
I was excited by Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons until the protagonist pulled out a sword
The author expresses disappointment with Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons' inclusion of sword combat, feeling it detracts from the game's unique invocation-based magic system. While acknowledging the game's potential for clever spellcasting, the protagonist resorting to a conjured sword makes it feel like a generic action-adventure. The article contrasts this with games like Magicka, which successfully focus solely on unique magic mechanics.
Gears of War: E-Day reportedly courts over 1.7m Xbox Game Pass players and makes over $37m since launch
Gears of War: E-Day has reportedly sold around 230,000 copies across Steam and Xbox consoles/PC, generating over $37 million including Premium Edition upgrades and microtransactions. A significant portion of its player base, over 1.7 million, engaged with the game through Xbox Game Pass, with many opting for the $30 Premium Edition upgrade for early access. The article also touches on player overlap with other titles and discusses the studio's confidence in the game as a foundation for future installments.
Helldivers 2 disables the DSS buff that's been a team-killing monster for months: "My god they finally did…
Arrowhead Game Studios has deactivated the DSS Eagle Storm stratagem in Helldivers 2 due to persistent friendly fire issues. The developer plans to rework the ability, which has been a source of player frustration and self-inflicted team deaths for months.
Helldivers 2 Gets a New Trailer Showcasing the TD-110 Maelstrom Tank
Arrowhead Game Studios has released a new trailer for Helldivers 2, showcasing the upcoming TD-110 Maelstrom tank. The update also includes various community-requested changes, balance adjustments, and the new 'Ironclad Democracy' Premium Warbond featuring new weapons, armor, and cosmetics. Helldivers 2 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Reacher star Alan Ritchson is in talks to replace Jason Momoa on the Helldivers movie
Alan Ritchson is in talks to replace Jason Momoa as the lead in Sony's upcoming Helldivers movie. Momoa dropped out in June, and Ritchson, known for his role in Reacher, is being considered for his first major leading film role. The article expresses some doubt about Ritchson's suitability for the role, suggesting he may be too heroic for the game's theme of anonymous soldiers.
Very Large Man Could Join Helldivers Movie After A Different Very Large (Aqua)Man Dropped Out
Alan Ritchson is reportedly set to replace Jason Momoa as the lead in Sony's upcoming Helldivers movie, with Justin Lin directing. Momoa departed the project earlier this year and will instead appear in the Street Fighter movie. Helldivers 2, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios, was a major success in 2024.
As Horizon Forbidden West and Helldivers 2 vanish from Steam in the UK, Sony confirms there's an ongoing issue and…
Players in the UK have reported that Horizon Forbidden West and Helldivers 2 have been delisted from Steam. Sony Interactive Entertainment confirmed awareness of the issue affecting select titles in the UK and is working with Valve to resolve it, apologizing for the inconvenience.
Xbox Game Pass to Lose Day-One Games, Split Into Two Tiers in 2027 – Rumor
A rumor suggests Xbox will restructure Game Pass in 2027 into two tiers, one with ads for $12.99 and one without for $19.99, both losing day-one first-party releases and cloud streaming. Cloud gaming will be a separate $5.99 bundle, and console multiplayer access will be unbundled at $10.99 per month. These potential changes come amid internal criticism of Game Pass's business model and past publisher objections to features like a family plan.
Jobs roundup: September 2026 | Fandom expands executive leadership team
Several companies in the gaming industry have announced executive appointments and promotions. Fandom expanded its leadership team with new hires and a promotion, while The New York Times appointed Jonathan Knight as chief games officer. Scopely saw two new appointments, and other companies like Arrowhead Game Studios, Epic Games, Blizzard Entertainment, King, CD Projekt Red, and Unity also announced new roles and promotions for their staff.
GTA 6 Skipping PC At Launch And Having No Online Right Away Is Good, Helldivers Boss Says
Sham Jorjani, CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios, expressed that Grand Theft Auto 6 skipping a PC launch and an immediate online mode at its November 19 release is beneficial for Helldivers 2. He believes this staggered approach allows Helldivers 2 to maintain its momentum. Rockstar Games has confirmed Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with a PC version expected later, similar to Grand Theft Auto 5's release strategy.
