niche titles

Shams Jorjani, CEO of Arrowhead, discussed the company's journey following the success of Helldivers 2, emphasizing the importance of targeting a specific audience rather than a broad one. The game's unexpected popularity attracted millions of players, prompting a reevaluation of their development approach. Jorjani noted that creating a game for a dedicated audience can resonate beyond that group, referencing From Software's challenging games as an example of how niche titles can create new genres. Despite not aiming for a mainstream audience like Call of Duty, Arrowhead attracted a diverse player base with varying expectations. Jorjani described challenges during a difficult period of balancing studio principles with the demands of a larger audience. The experiences from Helldivers 2 will influence Arrowhead's future projects and enhance their understanding of audience engagement in the gaming market.