The CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios and one of its community managers have recently commented on the similarities between Helldivers 2 and Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 4. Though many fans have brought up concerns that Fortnite might be muscling in on its turf, Helldivers 2 is “not worried” about it, and asserts that “there is room for us all at the king’s table.”
Fortnite just kicked off Chapter 6 Season 4, Shock N’ Awesome, on August 7, which introduced new weapons, skins, a refresh of the Battle Pass, and a game-changing map mechanic: Bug Invasions. Many gamers could not help but notice that this particular aspect of the new season of Fortnite seemed similar to Helldivers 2 – the extraction shooter that prominently features the insectoid Terminids as one of the main enemy factions.
Helldivers 2 Fan Theory Shut Down by Arrowhead Chief
Helldivers 2 director Johan Pilestedt officially speaks out to quash one of the most popular fan theories about the beloved co-op shooter.
‘Feels Very Democratic’ – Helldivers 2 on Fortnite’s Bugs
Players aren’t the only ones who noticed this similarity. On the official Helldivers 2 Discord, Arrowhead community manager Katherine Baskin commented on the newly-released Fortnite content, saying, “it's giving 'we have Helldivers at home’.” However, she went on to clarify that it was actually more flattering than anything, and that the studio is not worried about the competition. "Fortnite is Fortnite, Helldivers is Helldivers,” she said. “If the kings of video game drip think our drip is cool enough to... Inspire them... Then that's super cool. But our games couldn't be more different from one another. There's room for us all at the king's table."
Helldivers 2 CEO Shams Jorjani also commented on the new Fortnite season, saying it “feels very democratic” – a tongue-in-cheek reference to the setting of Helldivers 2. That said, Jorjani also admitted he did not play Fortnite or any other shooters besides Helldivers 2 and Battlefield, though he tries to make time for other types of games, like Magic: The Gathering, Subnautica, and Baldur’s Gate 3.
Fortnite is Fortnite, Helldivers is Helldivers. If the kings of video game drip think our drip is cool enough to... Inspire them... Then that's super cool. But our games couldn't be more different from one another. There's room for us all at the king's table.
This is far from the first game that Fortnite has taken inspiration from, and it will not be the last. The incredibly popular battle royale has featured references, both direct and indirect, to tons of pop culture staples and icons, such as past and rumored future Fortnite x Avatar: The Last Airbender collabs or its many Star Wars crossovers. What’s more, the iconic clash of human marines and alien bugs featured in Helldivers 2 is even a reference to older sci-fi works, such as the Arachnids of Starship Troopers and the Zerg of StarCraft, which are themselves callbacks to the Tyranids of Warhammer 40,000.
Either way, both Fortnite and Helldivers 2 are doing exceptionally well. Over 250 million Bugs were taken down in Fortnite within the first few days of the new season, and Helldivers 2 is gearing up for its Xbox Series X|S platform release on August 26. Needless to say, it seems like there are enough soldiers out there to push back the Bugs in both Helldivers 2 and Fortnite simultaneously.
Helldivers 2
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- February 8, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
WHERE TO PLAY
The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence. Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter.
URGENT BROADCAST – SUPER EARTH ARMED FORCES
Freedom. Peace. Democracy. Your Super Earth-born rights. The key pillars of our civilization. Of our very existence. But the war rages on. And everything is once again under threat.
Join the greatest military force the galaxy has ever seen and make this a safe and free place to live.
BECOME A LEGEND
You will be assembled into squads of up to four Helldivers and assigned strategic missions. Watch each other’s back – friendly fire is an unfortunate certainty of war, but victory without teamwork is impossible.
LOADOUTS
Rain down freedom from above, sneak through enemy territory, or grit your teeth and charge head-first into the jaws of combat. How you deliver liberty is your choice; you’ll have access to a wide array of explosive firepower, life-saving armor and battle-changing stratagems… the jewel in every Helldiver’s arsenal.
REQUISITION
Super Earth recognises your hard work with valuable Requisition. Use it to access different rewards that benefit you, your squad, your destroyer ship and our overall war effort.
THREATS
Everything on every planet wants you dead. That’s what we’re dealing with. Each enemy has distinct and unpredictable characteristics, tactics, and behavior – but they all fight ferociously and without fear or morality.
THE GALACTIC WAR
Capturing enemy planets, defending against invasions, and completing missions will contribute to our overall effort. This war will be won or lost depending on the actions of everyone involved.
We stand together, or we fall apart.
- Engine
- bitsquid
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Franchise
- Helldivers
- Number of Players
- 1-4 players (online)
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
