Lessons from Helldivers 2 Production
This year’s Game Developers Conference showcased a thought-provoking panel led by Johan Pilestedt, the Chief Creative Officer of Arrowhead. His discussion revolved around the journey of creating Helldivers 2, which ultimately took a staggering seven years and nearly eleven months to complete—far beyond the initially planned four years. Pilestedt candidly reflected on how their decision to skip pre-production was a misstep that significantly delayed the project.
Understanding Pre-Production
In game development, pre-production is often highlighted as a critical phase. Pilestedt illustrated this concept well, emphasizing that jumping straight into production without this preparatory stage was detrimental to their timeline and resources. He remarked, ‘Always do your homework before you start spending millions and millions of dollars in making a game.’ This advice isn’t just relevant to game developers; it applies universally to any project needing detailed planning.
A Cautionary Tale for Developers
Helldivers 2 serves as a cautionary tale. The early excitement led the team to assume they could streamline the process. However, they soon realized that a lack of thorough groundwork meant they faced unforeseen challenges. Just like preparing a meal, it’s essential to clearly define your recipe before embarking on the project. The lesson is clear: proper planning can save time, effort, and, in this case, millions of dollars. Avoiding the pitfalls seen in the making of Helldivers 2 will undoubtedly benefit future projects across the gaming industry.
