Helldivers 2 has been one of the big hits of 2024, even taking home three awards at this year's Golden Joysticks, and its developers consider themselves lucky that it launched when it did, rather than in the middle of the busy schedule. of 2025 launches.
When Helldivers 2 launched in February 2024, a relatively quiet time for game releases, it resoundingly captured the attention of gamers around the world. If it had been released a year later, it would have competed with games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Avowed, Civilization 7, and more. Helldivers 2 game director Michael Eriksson is under no illusions that they couldn't have picked a better time for the release.
“It was very good that we released it when we did,” he explains in an interview with GamesRadar+, “and I think our game is very lucky. I really like what we have done and what the studio has done, and I know that. The players “They also love our game, so I think that wouldn't have changed regardless of when we released it, but I think luck played a role in that we released it at a very good time when there wasn't as much competition.”
But while he acknowledges that the timing of Helldivers 2's release may have influenced its success, he firmly believes that the quality of the game is what really matters. “It's hard to say exactly how big the difference was, because nothing can beat having a good game that players love; you need it. Otherwise, it doesn't matter when you release something.”
He also wants to make it clear that in the future, Arrowhead Game Studios will continue to focus on making a great game, rather than focusing too much on timing. “Looking ahead, there are people who are thinking about these things, but we don't do it when we create the game, that's not what we think about. We just think 'how can we make the best game possible for us?' Our fans?' And that's the only thing. And then we commit to it, and we just hope it works.”
If you're interested in more titles from next year, check out our list of Game release dates 2025.