There’s a new sheriff in town at Arrowhead Game Studios, as former Paradox Interactive veteran Shams Jorjani has taken the reins at the Stockholm-based outfit. But don’t worry, Helldivers 2 enjoyers, current Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt isn’t going anywhere. Having chosen to step down into a more game-focused role as Arrowhead’s chief creative officer, Pilestedt is relishing the opportunity to spend more time with you when it comes to making the hit PS5 shooter the best it can be.
Having announced the news on Twitter, Pilestedt says that he and Jorjani “go way back, and I wouldn’t trust the business in any other hands than his.” Jorjani’s resume is certainly as impressive as the outgoing CEO notes, with Arrowhead’s new head honcho having spent 12 years with Paradox – publisher of some of the best games out there in the strategy space, alongside Arrowhead’s very own Magicka and The Showdown Effect.
Judging from their fresh interview with GamesIndustry.biz, the pair have quite the rapport, having remained friends for over a decade after Jorjani helped launch both projects. It also looks like the stars aligned perfectly when it comes to the timing of his move to the creators of one of the best co-op games of the year. “We were both at a stage where we’re wondering what’s next in our careers,” Jorjani says. “And we realized we probably couldn’t quite get to those places if we didn’t have the other one to help us get there.”
As for how Arrowhead’s going to look going forward, Pilestedt notes that, while he will still oversee the overall direction of the studio, he’ll be having “strategic conversations” with Jorjani on what needs to be done to take it to the next level – he wants to turn Arrowhead into “the next FromSoftware or Blizzard,” don’t you know.
Considering Pilestedt’s hands-on approach to Helldivers 2, as well as his position as a beacon of communication with players when it comes to the PS5 exclusive – this latest tweet being one such example – it makes perfect sense that he has opted to refocus his energy on the fight for managed democracy. After the PSN account linking debacle earlier this month, it’s now more important than ever to ensure Helldivers 2 is in the best possible position to navigate the ever-competitive live-service multiplayer game landscape. Hopefully, with Jorjani now at his side, Pilestedt and the Arrowhead team can realize their lofty ambitions.
For more of the latest news on one of the best PS5 games, check out the second galactic war that’s just kicked off in Helldivers 2. Before you go, drop our Google News feed a follow to stay up to date with the latest beats from the front lines.