Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead is giving all players free Killzone items starting today, December 19, in response to a backlash over pricing.
Part one of the Helldivers 2 and Killzone crossover includes a Killzone-themed armor set, assault rifle, banner, cape, and player title. If you want all the Killzone items you’ll have to hand over Super Credits to the value of nearly twice the cost of a premium Warbond, and nearly half the price of Helldivers 2 itself.
In a post on the Helldivers 2 Steam page, Arrowhead said it had talked to Killzone developer Guerrilla Games and is now gifting the items that were meant to be sold as part of the crossover’s second wave next week.
“As this was our first crossover offering, we’ve been listening to the response, and the feedback we’ve received from our community surveys is that crossover content is really high up on your wishlists,” Arrowhead said in its statement.
“At the same time, some of you are not happy with the prices of the items and we will revisit this.
“Many of you were also concerned that items wouldn’t be in rotation for long enough, and there was a bit of concern around how these items exist outside of our usual Warbond releases, which are always themed in our own universe.
“Because of all this, in partnership with our friends at Guerrilla (and as we’re in the season of holiday cheer), we’ve decided to offer a gift to all players.
“Firstly, we are gifting to everyone the planned second wave of the Helldivers x Killzone collaboration items today, free of charge. The distribution of those items will begin shortly, in two waves.”
The gift means Helldivers 2 players who were planning to buy both sets of Killzone items will now need to spend $10 worth of Super Credits instead of $20.
Arrowhead added that it will extend the duration of the items currently in the Superstore from five days to 10 days “so that you have a chance to get hold of it and reduce the risk of missing out.” It’s also working out how to bring the Killzone items back permanently.
Meanwhile, the W.A.S.P. stratagem will be available for all to unlock via a major order shortly.
Earlier today, Arrowhead insisted it was the driving force behind the expensive pricing of the Helldivers x Killzone items, not Sony. CCO Johan Pilestedt confirmed that the Killzone crossover was initially meant to be released as part of a Warbond, but Arrowhead decided against it in the hopes of avoiding a backlash.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
