Game industry should prioritize fundamentals over features

Johan Pilestedt, the Chief Creative Officer at Arrowhead Games, shared insights at GDC about the success of Helldivers 2. He believes the gaming industry often prioritizes features over core fundamentals, which can lead to poor game development. Helldivers 2 became popular by focusing on straightforward gameplay. Instead of overwhelming players with microtransactions and complex menus, it emphasizes shooting bugs and robots, along with plenty of guns to use. While it does include some unlocks and microtransactions, it remains true to its core concept. Pilestedt suggests that many in the industry mistakenly credit individual factors for a game's success, such as timing and price. He argues that copying features from successful games does not guarantee a hit. He emphasizes the importance of understanding a studio's fundamental values, style, and target audience before adding features. He uses a car metaphor to illustrate his point. If developers try to make a game that appeals to everyone, they risk creating something that satisfies no one. Instead, each studio should focus on their unique philosophy and target audience, which should guide their design choices. Pilestedt warns against blindly imitating successful game mechanics. For instance, he highlights how some superhero games struggle when forced into models that don’t fit their core identity. Good game development, he says, is about blending successful elements while staying true to the game's fundamental vision.