Helldivers 2 is the latest game to set the internet on fire, and the co-op game that sees a group of friends or strangers pit themselves against a hostile galaxy has become a well deserved success. But unfortunately for those players of a more competitive nature, it's been confirmed that the game will never have a player-versus-player (PVP) mode.
This announcement comes directly from the X (formerly Twitter) account of Helldivers 2 creative director and CEO of Arrowhead Studios, Johan Pilestedt. During a conversation centered around celebrating Helldivers 2's player count rising over that of Call of Duty's, one fan mentioned that if they really wanted to steal Call of Duty's players, they should implement a PVP mode for "hardcore players". Unfortunately for those who might want to pit themselves against their friends, Pilestedt dashed those hopes immediately, stating they would never add a PVP mode to the game.
This isn't an idle statement, and it's clear Pilestedt and his team have thought about this. According to his tweet, they're fully aware of the toxic impact a PVP mode can have on a video game, and they want to avoid that as much as possible. In his own words, "We want an environment that's supportive, fun and where we all are fighting on the same side!"
After an accusation that his team was "scared" to add a PVP mode, lamenting an apparent drop in PVP games every year, Pilestedt clarified they weren't scared of a PVP mode, but simply aware that other games offered PVP modes, and players could play those if they wanted to — in this case, he specifically offered Escape from Tarkov.
Regarding the claimed drop in PVP modes in recent years, that may be true; but it's likely because we've reached the end of the era where multiplayer modes were bolted onto games as a matter of course, rather than because developers are "scared" of what will happen if they do. Likelihood is, they're no longer being forced into creating them by publishers.
But it's a definite answer for Helldivers 2 fans, and while it's likely to be a disappointment for many, they should respect that Pilestedt and his team have a definite vision in mind for the game. With such care and respect, they can at least be happy that the game is in good hands.