Arrowhead chief creative officer Johan Pilestedt can imagine making a game that pokes fun at generative AI, with players living under an AI overlord that resembles a deity. He was discussing AI as a subject for satire, not announcing a game made with generative AI.
In an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, Pilestedt said such an idea would belong in a separate game rather than Helldivers 2. He described a possible premise, without confirming a project or linking it to Arrowhead’s next title.
A game that makes fun of generative AI
“AI has been worth parodying since the ’80s, and I can absolutely see a game where you’re stuck in a world with an AI overlord that’s basically a deity,” Pilestedt said.
He pictured the idea as a comedy, with a playful tone rather than a grim warning about an AI-controlled future.
Why it would be separate from Helldivers 2
“The Automatons already cover our robot enemy needs in Helldivers 2, so if we went there, it would be a new title, and we’d want to frame it in a quirky, fun way rather than a doom-laden one,” he said.
That preference for humour also came through in his discussion of Helldivers 2’s political satire. Pilestedt said some players understand the joke and enjoy playing along with it, even if its portrayal of fascism does not land with everyone.
His point was that humour can carry the message. An AI-themed satire could take a similarly playful approach, although he did not describe specific mechanics or a story beyond the overlord premise.
What Arrowhead has previously said about using AI
The idea of parodying generative AI is a separate issue from using it during development. Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani discussed that distinction between creative work and routine automation in a 2025 interview with The Game Business.
As reported by VGC, Jorjani argued for a more nuanced debate while stressing that people’s rights should be respected and their work paid for. He also said, “We don’t put any AI in the games,” while describing the value of tools that could help him process receipts faster.
Those comments describe Jorjani’s position at the time. Pilestedt’s hypothetical game idea does not establish a new policy on generative AI or specify which development tools Arrowhead would use.
The wider discussion has also featured in VGHQ’s coverage of the CDPR CEO’s doubts about fully AI-generated games and an EA executive’s case for AI as a creative partner.
For now, Pilestedt’s comments amount to an idea for a game about generative AI, with no title, release window or development announcement attached.
