The developers of Helldivers 2, Arrowhead Studios, are giving away free Killzone-themed cosmetic items following player criticism over the price of the initial premium crossover content. The first “premium” collaboration between Helldivers 2 and Killzone, featuring new Killzone-inspired items, was met with initial excitement but quickly turned to disappointment due to the perceived high cost. In response, Arrowhead is now offering the second wave of Killzone gear completely free of charge.
In a recent Steam post, Arrowhead acknowledged community concerns regarding the pricing of the first premium content drop. While the price of the initial Killzone pack will remain unchanged, the studio confirmed that the second pack, containing five items, will be free for all players. Originally slated for a December 23rd release, this second set of Killzone cosmetics was made available immediately following the announcement.
“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 explained. “At the same time, some of you are not happy with the prices of the items and we will revisit this.” Continuing, Arrowhead stated, “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.”
Free Killzone Gear and Extended Availability
To address the community concerns, Arrowhead is taking several steps. “Firstly, we are gifting to everyone the planned second wave of the Helldivers x Killzone collaboration items today, free of charge,” the studio confirmed. The distribution of these items will occur in two waves. Additionally, the availability of the items currently in the Superstore has been extended from 5 days to 10 days to give players ample opportunity to acquire them. Arrowhead is also exploring options for making these items permanently available in the future. “We hope you have a great holiday period, and continue to enjoy spreading managed democracy in Omens of Tyranny!” they concluded.
Arrowhead’s statement clearly indicates their intention to continue releasing premium content for Helldivers 2. While details about future cosmetics and potential franchise collaborations remain undisclosed, the studio’s response to the Killzone pricing backlash suggests a reevaluation of their content release strategy. It will be interesting to see how this experience influences their approach to premium content in 2025 and beyond.
