The director of Helldivers 2 is of the opinion that live service models can benefit the gaming sector, provided they avoid imposing additional costs for cosmetic items on players who have already paid a substantial initial price. The head of Helldivers 2 has emphasized the importance of treating players fairly, criticizing the practice of demanding a high entry fee followed by further microtransactions for cosmetic content.
Johan Pilestedt, an influential person at Arrowhead Game Studios and its former CEO, shared his perspectives during a talk at the 'Nordic Game' conference in Sweden, where he criticized the strategies employed by certain live service games. "Live service models can enhance the gaming industry when implemented correctly," Pilestedt remarked, highlighting the issue of neglecting player satisfaction in favor of financial gains. He stressed, "Live services can turn into a significant issue when they exploit consumers, especially when games charge an initial price and then proceed to extract more money for additional content." The goal, according to Pilestedt, should be to prioritize player value over profit margins.
Recent examples, including a criticism aimed at Blizzard for their monetization strategy in Diablo 4, show the negative impact of egregious microtransaction practices on the perception of live service games and their enjoyment by the community. In a different turn of events, Helldivers 2's community celebrated their victory against the Automatons on Varylia 5, unlocking the new Emancipator Exosuit mech for players.