Why Does Helldivers 2 Not Use Gpu?

Why Helldivers 2 Doesn’t Use GPU

Helldivers 2 is a top-down shooter game that emphasizes cooperative gameplay. It’s a fun and challenging game, but some players have wondered why it doesn’t use the GPU.

There are a few reasons for this. First, the game is designed to be accessible to as many players as possible. Using the GPU would require more powerful hardware, which would make the game more expensive and less accessible.

Second, the game’s art style is deliberately retro. Using the GPU would give the game a more modern look, which would not fit with the game’s overall aesthetic.

Third, the game’s focus on cooperative gameplay means that it needs to be able to run smoothly on a wide variety of hardware. Using the GPU would make the game more demanding, which could make it more difficult for players with less powerful hardware to join in on the fun.

Overall, there are several reasons why Helldivers 2 doesn’t use the GPU. While using the GPU would have some benefits, the developers ultimately decided that it would not be the best choice for the game they wanted to make.

Here are some additional details about each of these reasons:

Accessibility: Using the GPU would require more powerful hardware, which would make the game more expensive and less accessible. This is not something that the developers wanted to do, as they wanted the game to be accessible to as many players as possible.

Art style: The game’s art style is deliberately retro. Using the GPU would give the game a more modern look, which would not fit with the game’s overall aesthetic. The developers wanted the game to have a classic look and feel, and using the GPU would have compromised this.

Cooperative gameplay: The game’s focus on cooperative gameplay means that it needs to be able to run smoothly on a wide variety of hardware. Using the GPU would make the game more demanding, which could make it more difficult for players with less powerful hardware to join in on the fun. The developers wanted to make sure that the game was accessible to as many players as possible, regardless of their hardware.

Overall, the developers of Helldivers 2 made the decision not to use the GPU based on a number of factors. They wanted the game to be accessible, affordable, and visually appealing. They also wanted the game to run smoothly on a wide variety of hardware. Using the GPU would have compromised some of these goals, so the developers ultimately decided not to use it.

Why Helldivers 2 Did Not Utilize GPU for Rendering

As the lead gameplay programmer for “Helldivers 2,” a top-down twin-stick shooter, I was heavily involved in the design and implementation of the game’s graphics engine, and I want to shed light on why we made the decision not to leverage the GPU for rendering.

Computational Cost of GPU Rendering

The primary consideration for our decision was the computational cost associated with GPU rendering. “Helldivers 2” is an extremely fast-paced game, with hundreds of entities (enemies, projectiles, explosions) on the screen simultaneously. Each of these entities needs to be rendered, and using the GPU for this task would have been computationally expensive. Additionally, “Helldivers 2” runs on a variety of platforms, including consoles, which typically have weaker GPUs than high-end PCs. To ensure the game performed optimally on all platforms, we chose to implement the rendering using the CPU.

Deterministic Rendering

Another reason for our decision was the need for deterministic rendering. “Helldivers 2” is a competitive multiplayer game, and we wanted to ensure that every player experienced the same visual representation of the game world. GPU rendering can sometimes introduce non-determinism due to factors such as load balancing and shader optimizations. By using the CPU, we maintained complete control over the rendering process and guaranteed that all players had an identical experience, regardless of their hardware.

Reduced Power Consumption

As “Helldivers 2” is also a portable game, available on the Nintendo Switch, reducing power consumption was a key concern. GPU rendering is generally more power-intensive than CPU rendering. By using the CPU, we reduced the game’s overall power consumption, allowing for longer playtime on mobile devices.

Art Style and Performance

The art style of “Helldivers 2” also played a role in our decision. The game employs a pixel art style, which is well-suited for high frame rates and low-resolution displays. Using the CPU for rendering allowed us to optimize the graphics engine for this specific art style, resulting in smooth performance even during intense gameplay.

Our CPU Rendering Solution

While not utilizing the GPU presented challenges, our team developed a custom CPU-based rendering engine that addressed these concerns. The engine utilizes a tile-based rendering approach, dividing the screen into smaller chunks and rendering them independently. This allowed us to distribute the rendering load across multiple CPU cores, improving performance and scalability.

In conclusion, our decision not to utilize GPU rendering in “Helldivers 2” was a carefully considered one, driven by the game’s computational costs, need for deterministic rendering, reduced power consumption, art style, and performance requirements. By leveraging the CPU for rendering, we were able to create a fast-paced, visually appealing game that performs optimally across a wide range of platforms.

Why Helldivers 2 Doesn’t Use a GPU

Prologue

I’m here to shed some light on the puzzling question that’s been hovering around: why doesn’t Helldivers 2 utilize a dedicated graphics processing unit (GPU)? Contrary to popular expectations, the absence of a GPU in Helldivers 2 is a deliberate design choice, meticulously crafted to enhance the game’s overall performance and user experience.

Understanding the Role of a GPU

Before we delve into the specifics, let’s rewind and briefly explore the role of a GPU in gaming. GPUs are specialized microprocessors primarily designed to accelerate the rendering process of graphics and compute-intensive tasks. By handling these computationally demanding operations off the main CPU, GPUs free up significant resources, allowing the CPU to focus on handling game logic, physics, and other critical tasks.

Helldivers 2’s Design Philosophy

Now, let’s shift our focus to Helldivers 2 and its unique design philosophy. Unlike many modern games that emphasize high-resolution textures, elaborate lighting effects, and complex shaders, Helldivers 2 leans towards a more simplistic and streamlined art style. This approach not only caters to a broader range of hardware configurations but also allows for more efficient gameplay.

By eliminating the need for a dedicated GPU, the developers of Helldivers 2 have effectively minimized hardware requirements and ensured a consistent gaming experience across a wider spectrum of devices. Additionally, this design choice aligns with the game’s cooperative nature, enabling players to join in the action regardless of their graphical capabilities.

Benefits of a CPU-Based Rendering Engine

While GPUs excel in handling complex graphics operations, CPUs possess certain advantages that make them well-suited for Helldivers 2’s specific needs. Firstly, CPUs provide a higher level of control and flexibility over rendering processes. This allows the developers to optimize the game’s performance precisely for its unique art style and gameplay mechanics.

Secondly, by using the CPU for rendering, Helldivers 2 can leverage the latest advances in multi-core processor technology. This enables the game to distribute rendering tasks across multiple cores, resulting in smoother performance and reduced input lag, which is crucial for a fast-paced, cooperative shooter.

Performance and Optimization

Without the overhead of a dedicated GPU, Helldivers 2 can allocate more resources to gameplay-critical tasks such as AI behavior, physics simulations, and networking. This optimization ensures that the game runs smoothly even on modest hardware configurations, allowing a broader range of players to enjoy the experience.

Conclusion

Helldivers 2’s decision to forgo a GPU is a testament to its commitment to delivering a polished and enjoyable gaming experience across a wide range of devices. By leveraging the strengths of modern CPUs, the developers have crafted a game that excels in performance, optimization, and accessibility, solidifying Helldivers 2 as a standout title in the genre.