Arrowhead Game Studios has spoken out following the launch of Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 4, “Shock N’ Awesome,” which introduced a new Bug Invasion mechanic that immediately drew comparisons to Helldivers 2’s insectoid Terminids. While some fans voiced concerns that Fortnite might be stepping into Helldivers 2’s territory, the developers say they are not worried — and even find the similarities flattering.
“We Have Helldivers at Home”
Katherine Baskin, community manager for Helldivers 2, addressed the topic on the game’s official Discord server. She acknowledged the similarities with a tongue-in-cheek comment, saying it was “giving ‘we have Helldivers at home’.” However, she made it clear that Arrowhead views it as a compliment rather than a threat.
“Fortnite is Fortnite, Helldivers is Helldivers. If the kings of video game drip think our drip is cool enough to… inspire them… then that’s super cool. But our games couldn’t be more different from one another. There’s room for us all at the king’s table.”
CEO Shams Jorjani Weighs In
Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani also offered his thoughts, calling the situation “very democratic” — a playful nod to the Helldivers universe’s satirical politics. Jorjani noted that he doesn’t play Fortnite or most other shooters outside of Helldivers 2 and Battlefield, preferring to spend his gaming time on titles like Magic: The Gathering, Subnautica, and Baldur’s Gate 3.
Inspiration Flows Both Ways
While some gamers accuse Fortnite of borrowing ideas without much originality, this is far from the first time Epic Games’ battle royale has pulled inspiration from other sources. From Star Wars and Avatar: The Last Airbender collaborations to pop culture references across films, TV, and gaming, Fortnite thrives on blending outside influences with its own style.
Similarly, Helldivers 2’s battles against alien insects draw from earlier sci-fi works such as the Arachnids of Starship Troopers, the Zerg of StarCraft, and the Tyranids of Warhammer 40,000.
Both Games Continue to Thrive
Despite their similarities in theme, Fortnite and Helldivers 2 operate in very different genres and gameplay styles — one a fast-paced battle royale, the other a cooperative extraction shooter. Both are currently enjoying strong engagement, with Fortnite players taking down over 250 million Bugs within days of the new season’s launch. Meanwhile, Helldivers 2 is preparing for its Xbox Series X|S release on August 26, which is expected to bring in a fresh wave of recruits.
With millions of players eager to fight back the Bug threat — whether in Fortnite or Helldivers 2 — it’s safe to say there’s plenty of room at the table for both.
