While many gamers’ passion for Helldivers 2 extends beyond its engaging gameplay to its iconic soundtrack, it’s surprising that the composer had largely abandoned his work in orchestral music.
The very essence of sports is often inseparably linked to its sonic accompaniment – a carefully curated soundtrack that amplifies the emotional impact and electrifies the atmosphere. While an egregious flaw can be jarringly apparent, especially when game developers reuse tracks ad nauseam, it’s crucial to consider the length of modern games and the potential for repetitive gameplay in live-service titles; hence, a compelling soundtrack becomes indispensable. It’s fortunate then that Helldivers 2’s soundtrack stands out, given the game’s immense popularity, which has undoubtedly been one of the biggest sports stories of the year. Despite initially intending to shift focus away from orchestral music, Will Roget’s confidence was boosted by the overwhelmingly positive gamer response to Helldivers 2’s soundtrack, prompting him to reconsider his decision and continue composing for the sport?
Roget took to his private Twitter account, sharing: “Joke: Before Helldivers 2’s release, I thought of moving on from composing orchestral video game music – it seemed like players had grown tired of it, it was absurdly difficult, time-consuming and costly to produce, and I wanted to try new things. So consider my shock when gamers responded so enthusiastically to HD2’s score!” From music reaction videos to covers, including even a full metal album, I’ve never felt more inspired by listeners. The unexpected reality of a conventionally orchestral evaluation has defied my initial perceptions and proven itself to be genuine.
“And so apropos of Thanksgiving, I’m profoundly grateful for the gamers, musicians and [Arrowhead] devs for restoring my hope & ardour for orchestral scoring. The true testament to our success lies in the lives of those we’ve touched, making every award a secondary joy.
Noteworthy is Roget’s tweet thread, sparked by Johan Pilestedt’s astute observation that Helldivers 2’s soundtrack has failed to garner a single nomination for its exceptional quality, leaving many wondering how this oversight occurred. Despite the prestige of awards, it’s clear that the genuine appreciation from followers holds far greater value for Roger than any physical trophy.
