Johan Pilestedt, the creative director behind Helldivers 2, has announced that he is taking a sabbatical leave. After dedicating 11 years to the Helldivers franchise, starting from the original game in 2013 and continuing with Helldivers 2 since early 2016, Pilestedt feels the need to step back and reconnect with family, friends, and himself. "Eleven years of working around the clock on the same IP has made me set aside family, friends, and my lovely wife... and myself," Pilestedt shared on social media. He plans to use this time to "redeem what was lost" from those who have supported him over the past decade. Upon his return, Pilestedt will shift his focus to Arrowhead's next game.

Helldivers 2, released in February 2024, became an instant hit, becoming PlayStation Studios' fastest-selling game ever with 12 million copies sold in just 12 weeks. The game's success has led to plans for a movie adaptation by Sony. Pilestedt became a prominent figure in the game's community, engaging with fans across various platforms, including social media, Reddit, and Discord. However, the game's success also brought challenges, including increased community toxicity and threats directed at the studio's staff, a new and troubling development for Arrowhead.

The launch of Helldivers 2 was marred by server issues that initially made the game unplayable for many, leading to a backlash. Arrowhead has since faced ongoing criticism over various aspects, from weapon balance to the controversial decision by Sony to require PC gamers to link to a PlayStation Network account, which was later reversed following a review-bombing campaign on Steam. This decision cost Arrowhead's staff a week dealing with the fallout.

In response to the game's success and the challenges it brought, Pilestedt transitioned from CEO to chief creative officer at Arrowhead, allowing him to focus more on the studio's games and community. Shams Jorjani, a former executive at Paradox and publisher of Magicka, stepped in as the new CEO.

While there is no information yet on Arrowhead's next game, it is clear that Helldivers 2 will continue to receive updates, with the recent addition of the third enemy faction, the Illuminate, keeping the game fresh and engaging for players.