Helldivers 2 is a very popular game. That much is pretty obvious when players are currently lining up to try and play the thing, as the game's servers continue to strain due to the sheer number of unexpected players. Despite this popularity, the game has come under a little bit of criticism for its monetization, mostly down to the fact that the game's premium battle pass contains things other than simple cosmetics.
It's led to claims that the game is "pay-to-win", claims that creative director Johan Pilestedt has frequently hit back against since launch. Earlier today, Pilestedt stated via his personal Twitter account that he "stands by" his various claims that Helldivers 2 isn't pay-to-win, explaining that there isn't anything more powerful than the game's current armory of weapons in the battle pass and that players can always simply "play and unlock" anything in there.
Pilestedt also believes that the games industry needs a "middle ground" when it comes to the content of DLC and premium battle passes. It's common for battle passes that contain anything other than simple cosmetics to be labeled as pay-to-win, with most people assuming that any weaponry or gameplay affecting items included are deliberately powerful and unbalanced. That can certainly be the case in some games, but Pilestadt believes that Helldivers 2 has struck the correct balance, and is simply offering new options that are "mechanically different".
"You have to earn the right to monetize" – I truly believe that. If people want to support this title they have an option, but we are never forcing anyone to do so.
Even though there are complaints from a minority about the monetization of Helldivers 2, most people seem to be of the opinion that the game is actually quite generous and that the developers have the right attitude. Praise was piled on Pilestadt earlier this month, when he claimed that developers need to "earn the right to monetize", and that Arrowhead will never force players into supporting the title in that way if they don't want to.
In other Helldivers 2 news, the game's rise in popularity seems to have made Xbox head Phil Spencer a tad jealous, as he recently said that he's "not exactly sure who it helps" in regard to the game's console exclusivity on PlayStation.
