Helldivers 2 thrives on unpredictable gameplay elements

The director of Helldivers 2, Johan Pilestedt, recently shared how a simple design idea helped his team create a successful game. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, he talked about a moment from the development of Magicka, a previous game by the same studio, Arrowhead. Pilestedt had a discussion with the chief technology officer, Anton Stenmark. He suggested that if a big rock was thrown at an enemy and didn’t kill it, they should make the rock do something interesting, like bounce. Stenmark was hesitant, believing it wouldn’t lead to any meaningful gameplay. Pilestedt argued that it might work once in a million tries. Stenmark agreed to try it. Two months later, during a test, a player threw a rock, and it landed on their head, causing a dramatic and funny reaction. Pilestedt realized, "this works" and thought they might become very successful. He convinced the team that this unpredictable design approach could create engaging moments. Now, Helldivers 2 uses this philosophy, allowing chaotic events to unfold during gameplay. From unexpected explosions to grenades returning to players, these moments have attracted many fans. Despite some launch challenges, Helldivers 2 has become a hit. Pilestedt humorously recalled a moment when he advised players to wait before buying the game due to server issues, leading to a surprised response from PlayStation.