Helldivers 2 Developers Refute Testing Rumors, Highlight Incognito In-Game Presence Before Any “Unusual Activities”

Have you ever wondered if that squadmate in your Helldivers 2 match might be an Arrowhead developer? It’s possible, but don’t expect them to stand out in any special way. According to a recent post by Arrowhead, those developers aren’t engaged in live game testing as rumored.

With everyone fully immersed in the expansive Galactic War and the DSS back in action, the studio decided it was time to clear up some misunderstandings circulating on Reddit. Some players believed they had crossed paths with developers due to encountering participants with uniquely colored names.

In a community post on the Helldivers 2 subreddit, Katherine ‘Baskinator’ Baskin, the studio’s community manager, addressed these rumors. She clarified, “I’ve noticed some discussions about Helldivers with different colored names and markers, alongside speculation that these might be developers testing the game live. Let’s clear that up!”

She went on to explain, “Currently, we don’t use any devtags or special identifiers for developers in the game. Our usernames appear just like anyone else’s when we play Helldivers 2.” So if you find yourself alongside a developer, they’ll simply blend in with no flashy tags to identify them as such.

Additionally, Baskin dispelled another myth: “We don’t test the game in a live environment. If someone claims they’re a developer and starts doing bizarre things like spawning items, they’re using exploits. Stay vigilant, Helldivers, and report any suspicious activity to your Democracy Officer.”

So, though you might share a session with Arrowhead personnel, they won’t be making any unauthorized tweaks or sporting any cosmic colors.

Interestingly, in other news from the Helldivers team, creative director Johan Pilestedt recently responded to a fan on Twitter. He highlighted that Arrowhead is considering expanding color customization to include armor—a feature many players are eager for.

Have you stumbled upon any mysterious players claiming to be the masterminds behind Helldivers 2? Share your stories with us in the comments!