Take the plunge into the world of gaming, and you will find yourself right in the middle of a revolution-an utterly exciting story where gamers and critics alike are discussing the sudden successes of Helldivers 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3. These titles have won not only the hearts of gamers across the world but also screamed loud and clear in the faces of the industry: when developers are given all the time and freedom to get their art right, the results can be nothing but spectacular.
Let’s try to find out the secret ingredients responsible for the wildly distributed successes of these games; it’s a story about persistence, creativity, and a little risk-taking that has earned an extra income for the hit studio franchises.
Helldivers 2 is Arrowhead’s incredibly surprising title, over-delivering on its promise with a heft of unpredictability. This is a game one gladly throws themselves into login purgatory for, ready to dive into chaotic bliss with alien buddies trying to rip them to shreds. No, this is not a flash in the pan; this is 13 years of diligent refinement in work-a testament to the studio loving their craft.
Meanwhile, Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 has taken over the gaming community unto its own phenomenon. It’s a game so lovingly crafted to each iteration and building from the last, with a singular creative vision many years in the making.
Both games serve as shining examples of what can be achieved when development teams are allowed to iterate and evolve their ideas over time. It’s a process that has enabled Arrowhead and Larian to not only survive but thrive, even in the face of potential bankruptcy.
What’s the common thread that ties these success stories together?
It’s holding on to those talented developers who put their hearts and souls into such projects. Arrowhead, the house that Magicka built, showed how sticking to your guns and refining a core concept over a decade can sometimes culminate in creating something truly special.
Continuing deeper into the tales of these two studios, we consider how dedication to their craft and their teams has led to the making of games that strike true with players on a deep level. It is almost an object lesson for the industry: let devs cook, and the feast they prepare may just be a banquet of gaming excellence.
The gaming industry can be a high-stakes gamble. The pressure for the next big hit seems to encourage a churn-and-burn approach in the development of games. Helldivers 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3 have enjoyed wild successes, painting a very different picture where dev retention and creative freedom are not buzzwords but part of the secret sauce that keeps them going.
In this section, we look at how such factors have influenced game development and contributed to the successes of Arrowhead and Larian Studios. Herein lies a story that broke the mold and gave a model for enduring success in the games world.
The industry has tough work conditions, leading to high turnover among developers.
A 2023 survey by IATSE games workers reported that “less than half of respondents had made it to their seventh year in the business,” while two years was the most common career length. It’s this environment of burnout and career instability that really forms a jarring contrast with the stories about Arrowhead and Larian, where employee retention has really played a crucial part in their achievements.
What can be said of Arrowhead’s journey with Helldivers 2 is the power of persistence, along with advantages afforded by team nurturing-the ability of the studio to retain key personnel in a position to build upon collective experience and expertise. The original 12 that worked on Magicka were still lending their talents to subsequent projects such as The Showdown Effect, Gauntlet, and Helldivers, with around 75% of the team remaining constant until Helldivers 2. Continuity like this has allowed Arrowhead to hone in on their craft, turning their games into fine-tuned machines of jolly, gratuitous carnage.
Larian Studios aren’t much different; about 80% of the staff that were credited on Divinity: Original Sin 2 show up in the credits for Baldur’s Gate 3. In fact, a lot of those employees were promoted, which goes to show some growth and recognition are happening within the studio. That stability gave Larian the chance to grow its games incrementally, each success a platform to reach new levels with Baldur’s Gate 3. The cinematic storytelling combined with the dynamic system of combat stands in testimony to a team that has been continuously empowered to iterate and improve from past work.
The creative freedom enjoyed by both studios cannot be overstated.
Being privately and independently owned operations, both Arrowhead and Larian have been in a position to make some really quite brave, if not actually bold decisions, without the outside forces of financial constraint holding them back. This has allowed them to pursue their unique creative visions-even at those junctures of time where it means taking great risks. For instance, Larian’s gamble on outside investment and Kickstarter funding for Divinity: Original Sin could have seen the studio go under; instead, it paved the way for their successes that are to come.
By giving the developers time and space to hone their craft, Arrowhead and Larian have not only survived but thrived, creating games that truly resonate deeply with players-providing rich, engaging, polished experiences. The lesson for the industry is quite clear: investing in your team and fostering an environment where creativity can flourish pays dividends.
So, at least Helldivers 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3 give hope that in the future of game development, more games will come out embracing dev retention and creative freedom. Devs are the artisans making our games, after all. The success of both indicates that giving them the time and freedom to do their thing pays off. Here is your lesson from Arrowhead and Larian: let the devs make the next great game.
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The wild successes of Helldivers 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3 send a clear message: Let devs cook
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