I knew there was a reason Helldivers 2 is my favorite game, and sure enough, creative director Johan Pilestedt now comes out and rejects the concept of woke DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) being used in games.
The DEI nonsense has destroyed games like Suicide Squad, Dragon Age, it’s rumored to have infected GTA 6, well, there’s no place for it in the Helldivers universe.
When asking fans on X what are your expectations and desires for what the next Arrowhead game will be, one fan replied, “Never add dei to your games.”
Detracts from the game experience
Pilestedt replied:
If it doesnt add to the game experience, it detracts. And games should be a pure pursuit of amazing moments.
A fan then questioned, “How would DEI have benefited Helldivers 2?” Pilestedt shot back:
I don’t like labels. But mankind is united in its extreme xenophobia on Super Earth. #Inclusion so, maybe that’s DEI?
I really don’t care. Make good games, don’t make a contemporary political statement.
We’re winning
Grummz, the former team lead for World of Warcraft, caught wind of the tweets and noted how the shill media is now forced to cover the topic, which is a good sign for the gaming industry and for fans, as that means the woke DEI garbage is being rejected:
Good Morning, we’re WINNING.
Helldivers CCO @Pilestedt says DEI detracts from a game’s experience and that political messaging does not belong in games.
But what is notable here is how legacy gaming media is actually *covering* this now.
Before this would never be discussed, it would be ignored, buried. The fact that legacy media is picking up on this means the Overton window has shifted.
We absolutely have had an effect in 2024 where anti-DEI has been heard LOUD and CLEAR by gaming execs and can no longer be IGNORED by legacy media. You did this! Gamers did this. We will continue to push against political propaganda that ruins games, we will continue to be heard.
