Helldivers 2 director says he’s taking a break before starting on his next game

The director of Helldivers 2 says he needs to take a break before he can start work on his studio’s next game.

In a statement posted on X, game director and Arrowhead Game Studios co-founder Johan Pilestedt explained that he had been working on the game for around nine years, and the entire Helldivers series for more than a decade.

According to Pilestedt, the lengthy development time took a toll on him, and forced him to limit his time with family and friends, so he plans to make up for lost time before starting on Arrowhead’s next project.

“I am gonna do a sabbatical for a while,” Pilestedt wrote, explaining: “While you have enjoyed Helldivers 2 for almost a year, I have been living it since early 2016, and with Helldivers it’s since 2013.

“11 years of working ‘around the clock’ on the same IP has made me set aside family, friends and my lovely wife… and myself. I am going to take some time now to redeem what was lost from all of those that supported me for over a decade.

“I am sure my friends at Arrowhead will do their utmost in the meantime to deliver amazing stuff to Helldivers 2. When I’m back, I will start working on the next Arrowhead game.”

Hey everyone!

I am gonna do a sabbatical for a while!

I know a lot of you are going to think “por qué?” – well, while you have enjoyed @helldivers2 for almost a year, I have been living it since early 2016, and with @HelldiversGame – its since 2013.

11 years of working “around…

— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) January 27, 2025

Earlier this month Pilestedt said he was already planning Arrowhead’s next game, telling players that he was “working on the high concept” and inviting speculation on what it could be.

Since its release and breakout success last year, Arrowhead has continued to update the Sony-published Helldivers 2, and Pilestedt has even suggested it will work on the game until it effectively becomes ‘Helldivers 3’.