Helldivers 2 Director Criticizes the Game Industry's Rash Bet on 'Sameness'
Do you ever feel like you're seeing the same game come out over and over again? Remakes, remasters, and clones chase the next huge success. It's a feeling many gamers relate to. Developers feel it too. One prominent voice is speaking about why this happens.
Johan Pilstedt, the mastermind behind the successful Helldivers series, recently shared his perspective on the video game world. He directly addressed the core problem: the industry's trend-following compulsion.
The "Cruel Cycle" Spurred by Fear
Pilstedt described a disturbing trend – a "cruel cycle of death and rebirth." He points to periodic, massive layoffs striking thousands of trained workers. He suggests the cause is companies being too conservative, trying to copy success instead of creating it.
"It's like we're melting into one," said Pilstedt, noting the lack of variety. He believes the boom-and-bust cycle is severe today because the industry lacks product diversification.
He sees the root cause as management seeking "easy money." They see a winning formula and instruct studios to replicate it for an easy win. Pilstedt argues this strategy is not safe.
Why Playing It Safe is the Biggest Risk
He believes studios copying the latest blockbuster are essentially committing a "death sentence." When formulaic games fail, programmers pay the price, losing their jobs.
"We are in a firm where we have to be ready to take the risk," Pilstedt declared. He emphasized that true success is not quickly achieved by copying others. He used Helldivers as an example – many doubted its success, but the team bet on their concept.
His Tip? Take the Bull by the Horns, Be Yourself.
Pilstedt's message to developers and publishers is clear: To break free from this ruinous pattern, the sector must embrace risk.
"Do your games the way you think suits your studio," he urged. "Don't look at what everyone else is doing, think a bit about what you want to do, and be risky."
This is not Pilstedt's first caution against industry pitfalls. He has spoken about how the pursuit of "perfect balance" can stifle creativity and harm games.
Ultimately, his perspective offers a takeaway: true innovation and long-term health in the video game industry may depend on studios having the courage to be different.
