FromSoftware and Blizzard Entertainment, the leading game studios behind critically acclaimed titles that include Elden Ring and the Diablo series, are the companies that the developer behind PlayStation’s Helldivers 2 is currently aspiring to be, according to new comments shared by Johan Pilestedt, chief creative officer at Arrowhead Games Studios. Pilestedt shared the news as part of a new interview that was published today regarding the “shock success” of his studio’s squad-based shooter title, pointing out alongside newly appointed CEO Shams Jorjani that while he’s aware of how “painful” working at a big studio can be, Arrowhead has the potential to be the next Blizzard.
Quotes from the Arrowhead crew:
- Johan Pilestedt
- “We pride ourselves on being an independent studio. We have to see what the future holds, but there’s nothing in the plans where we want to be acquired by somebody.”
- “I want to see how high we can fly. And bringing Shams on board, we have a good potential to realise that future of turning into the next From Software or Blizzard.”
- Shams Jorjani
- “The goal of the studio is to make really great co-op games. We really want to turn Arrowhead into a flagship studio, where people who want to make these kind-of games say to themselves: ‘I want to work at Arrowhead’.”
- “When we were growing up, we really wanted to work at Blizzard, it was one of the bucket list places to work at. I think Arrowhead has the potential to be that.”
- “But that doesn’t mean we have to be a 500-person company. In fact, a 500-person company is quite painful in a lot of ways. We will see growth, but growth as a means to an ends, not as an end itself.”
- “We don’t have plans to go public. None of those shenanigans. Measured growth that allows us to make amazing game and be a good place to work.”
- Pilestedt (add’l)
- “We don’t run the business for monetary gain. The humbleness and the desire to just make great games is the only reason we exist.”
Pilestedt confirming Jorjani as Arrowhead’s new CEO:
Hey everyone,
— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 22, 2024
Big update, I've decided to hire @ShamsJorjani as the new CEO of @ArrowheadGS! We go way back and I wouldn't trust the business in any other hands than his. (…and he comes with an impressive resume and love for games)
But what about me and my involvement in…
As for how Arrowhead got its name:
The name “Arrowhead” mainly came out of two main ideas. One, my last name is Pilestedt, which can be directly translated to English as “arrow stead.” We also liked the idea that “Arrowhead” sounds like a serious company. Tip of the arrow. Cutting edge. Then you see the logo [a person with an arrow comically piercing their head] and the meaning changes into something dumber.