Ever wondered what makes Helldivers 2 tick? The game's explosive action and chaotic battles are powered by a surprising choice of game engine. It’s a topic that has sparked a lot of conversation among players and developers alike.

Helldivers 2 runs on a modified version of the Autodesk Stingray engine. This might come as a surprise to many, as Autodesk discontinued the Stingray engine back in 2018. The developers at Arrowhead Game Studios started working on Helldivers 2 before Stingray was discontinued and decided to stick with it, modifying it to suit their needs.

Why Stick With a Discontinued Engine?

You might be thinking, "Why not just switch to a more modern engine like Unreal Engine 5?" Well, it's not that simple. Game development is a long and complex process. Switching engines mid-development would have meant throwing away years of work and starting from scratch. I remember when I was trying to build my own simple game, I made the mistake of switching engines halfway through. It set me back months and I eventually gave up on the project. For a big studio like Arrowhead, the stakes are much higher.

Arrowhead was already familiar with the Stingray engine, having used it for the first Helldivers game. This familiarity allowed them to push the engine to its limits and create the spectacular visuals and intense gameplay we see in Helldivers 2. Their team of "crazy engineers," as the CEO affectionately calls them, have done an incredible job of keeping the engine alive and kicking.

I was recently playing a mission on Malevelon Creek, and the sheer number of enemies on screen, the explosions, and the lighting effects were just breathtaking. It's a testament to the skill of the developers that they were able to achieve this with an engine that is technically "dead."

Of course, using a discontinued engine does have its challenges. The developers have to create all their own tools and updates, which can be a lot of extra work. However, it also gives them a level of control that they might not have with a more popular engine. For tips on how to get the best performance out of the game, you can check out our guide on how to make Helldivers 2 run better.

Whether you're battling Terminids or Automatons, you need every advantage you can get. If you're looking to make some in-app purchases to get the latest gear, consider using Playstorm. You can play fun games, earn points, and redeem them for PlayStation or Steam gift cards to use in Helldivers 2.