It turns out that even slightly mean philosophical jokes from the developers of satirical wargames can have a heartwarming ending. Last week, Hell divers 2 developer Arrowhead Game Studios gave players a new Major Order and a stark moral choice: save a hospital full of sick children from an army of killer robots, or earn the cool anti-tank mines they always wanted (on the third ask).
Players selflessly chose to help the sick children en masse, and now they get their deserved reward: feeling good about themselves. Johan Pilestedt, Chief Creative Officer of Arrowhead revealed on X that the studio had made a $4,311 donation to Save the Children to commemorate the community’s generosity in the game.
The good atmosphere also continued throughout gaming history. The studio is official Hell divers 2 account shared an adorable sketch of a smiling child holding the hand of a Helldiver (next to a burning alien skull) and the following in-fiction post:
Dear Helldivers,
Thank you so much for saving us. They told us that you made many sacrifices (mines/lives) to help us. We will always be grateful. Now we too can grow up to be Helldivers.
With freedom,
The very sick children of super citizen Anne
We also have a special message to share with you:
“Dear Helldivers,
Thank you so much for saving us. They told us that you made many sacrifices (mines/lives) to help us. We will always be grateful. Now we too can grow up to be Helldivers.
With freedom,
The very sick children… pic.twitter.com/ZuiI4OQUaP— HELLDIVERS™ 2 (@heldivers2) June 14, 2024
Aww. That warm, fuzzy feeling you get is worth more than a fake anti-tank mine for a video game, right?
Right?