The boss of Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead has ruled out a transmog system coming to the hit PC and PlayStation 5 co-op shooter, insisting: “it doesn’t make sense.”
Ever since Helldivers 2’s explosive launch in February, some players have called for a transmog system for the game’s myriad armor pieces. Transmog, short for transmogrify, itself a portmanteau of “transfigure” and “modify”, would theoretically let players change the appearance of armor pieces without affecting their stats.
Helldivers 2 armor does feature gameplay affecting stats, and some are deemed more “meta” than others. One of the most popular armor pieces gives players a 50% chance not to die when taking lethal damage, for example.
Responding to a user on X/Twitter, Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt said a transmog system wouldn’t make sense for Helldivers 2, and put that down to a commitment to realism.
“We are not doing transmog,” Pilestedt said. “It doesn’t make sense – equipment looks different because it has different effects. Swapping one for the other is like having an apple that tastes like bacon or the other way around.”
While Pilestedt’s comments are sure to disappoint some Helldivers 2 players, it is consistent with the philosophy underpinning the game. Things work as they look like they should, from the way weapons fire to enemy weak points. Even loading into a mission and dropping down onto a planet is rooted in this idea that everything you see is happening in real-time and for a reason. Indeed, much of Helldivers 2’s eye-catching emergent gameplay stems from this design. A transmog system would perhaps undermine Helldivers 2’s thus far crystal clear visual communication.
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.
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