Helldivers 2 Developer Insists Sony Acquisition Rumor Is ‘Fake’

ign.com:

The boss of Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead has denied a recent rumour that Sony is buying the studio.

While Helldivers 2 is published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Swedish studio Arrowhead remains an independent company. But following Helldivers 2’s explosive success across PlayStation 5 and PC, rumors have emerged that Sony has made a move to acquire Arrowhead.

Responding to a tweet from an account that reposted the rumour and even created a Sony ‘welcome to the family’ image to boost the post, Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt said: “This is fake... Unless I've missed something. Also, a really sh***y old logo from 2008 or so when we just started the studio.”

This is the first I hear of this... And that's a good indication that it's fake.

Also, very old logo.

Pilestedt responded to another tweet that posted the same image alongside a message hoping for the acquisition. “This is the first I hear of this,” Pilestedt said. “And that's a good indication that it's fake. Also, very old logo.”

Pilestedt had previously replied to a tweet to clarify that Helldivers 2 was not developed by a Sony-owned studio, saying: “We are not owned. We are independently owned!” Then: “I mean... We are owned, but only by the founders (including me) of the studio.”

I mean... We are owned, but only by the founders (including me) of the studio.

Last month, Sony announced a significant round of layoffs affecting around 900 staff, or about 8% of its global PlayStation workforce. The layoffs affect a number of PlayStation studios, including Insomniac, Naughty Dog, Guerrilla, Firesprite, and, most significantly, PlayStation's London studio, which is closing entirely. Alongside the layoffs, a number of in-development games were canceled, including a Twisted Metal live-service game.

Arrowhead was founded in 2008 by a group of students who went on to release Magicka, The Showdown Effect, and Gauntlet. The first Helldivers game launched in 2015, published by Sony for PlayStation platforms and PC.