Arrowhead Game Studios’ CEO, Shams Jorjani, announced that the team is “looking into” the possibility of removing the controversial anti-cheat program, GameGuard, from their latest release, Helldivers 2. This follows numerous complaints from players regarding the invasive nature of the software, which has been criticized for its kernel-level access that can lead to data corruption and performance issues.
During a recent discussion on Discord, Jorjani responded to a player’s question about alternatives to GameGuard, stating, “I hear ya. We’re looking into it. Let’s just get this patch out and then tackle this other hydra head.” While no specific timeline has been provided for when GameGuard may be replaced, the acknowledgment of player concerns marks a significant shift in the studio’s approach.
Background on GameGuard’s Controversy
The introduction of GameGuard has been contentious since February 2024, when Peter Lindgren, the Technical Director for Helldivers 2, defended its implementation. He emphasized that kernel-level anti-cheat systems are among the most effective means to counteract cheating. In a statement, Lindgren claimed, “GameGuard is only active while the game is running and after thousands of hours of testing we’ve not noticed any noteworthy degradations of performance.”
Despite these reassurances, players have reported experiencing significant performance drops, leading to frustrations within the community. Many believe that the anti-cheat system should not be necessary for a cooperative game like Helldivers 2. Lindgren cited issues from the original Helldivers game, where a cheat allowed players to gain excessive resources, disrupting the experience for non-cheating players. This example underscores the studio’s rationale for implementing GameGuard in the first place.
Community Response and Future Changes
The response from players regarding Jorjani’s recent comments has been largely positive, with many expressing hope on platforms like Reddit that the studio will follow through on their promise to reassess GameGuard. Nevertheless, some skeptics remain, questioning whether this shift in strategy is a genuine effort or merely a public relations move to quell ongoing discontent.
In the meantime, Arrowhead is focused on releasing the next update for Helldivers 2, which has faced delays beyond its originally planned mid-October release. Jorjani mentioned that the team is “busting ass” to deliver the update as soon as possible. Additionally, the studio is working on reducing the game’s file size on PC and enhancing overall performance, while also beginning development on their next project.
As Arrowhead navigates these changes, players continue to watch closely for updates regarding GameGuard and the studio’s commitment to improving the gaming experience in Helldivers 2.
