Helldivers 2 Developer Responds to Killzone Crossover Price Backlash

The launch of the Killzone crossover in Helldivers 2 has sparked significant backlash among players, with concerns over pricing and limited-time availability. In response, developer Arrowhead has taken to social media and community forums to address complaints, emphasizing its role in the decision-making process and outlining improvement plans.

The first part of the crossover features Killzone-themed cosmetics and items, but acquiring them all costs almost double the value of a premium Warbond and almost half the price of the game itself. This pricing structure has drawn comparisons to free-to-play models, leading to criticism as Helldivers 2 is a full-price title. To add to the frustration, these items are only available for five days before being removed from the in-game store.

Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani defended Discord’s pricing, stating that this was the studio’s first major collaboration and that the revenue generated would help fund free content updates. However, this explanation did little to appease fans, who argued that the justification was inconsistent with the game‘s pricing model.

During a recent town hall meeting, Jorjani acknowledged the backlash and admitted the price didn’t resonate with the community. Provided some clarification on Arrowhead’s intention to strike a balance between price and content appeal in future updates. The developer also admitted to challenges in running a live service game, citing his inexperience in this space as a factor in recent errors.

Amid speculation that Sony, the game‘s publisher, influenced the pricing strategy, Jorjani clarified that Arrowhead retained decision-making authority. “This depends on us,” he said, distancing Sony from the controversy. Arrowhead CCO Johan Pilestedt also revealed that the Killzone items were originally intended to be part of a premium Warbond, but were moved to individual sales to avoid negative sentiment, a decision that backfired anyway.

As the community awaits the second part of the Killzone crossover, launching on December 23, the question remains whether Arrowhead will review its pricing approach or continue as planned.

Helldivers 2 is now available for PC and PS5. The game recently received a special edition DualSense controller and features an ongoing collaboration with Guerrilla Games’ Killzone franchise.