Launched as a PlayStation 5 exclusive on February 8, Helldivers 2 spread democracy so fast it shot up the PlayStation Store charts within days, solidifying its popularity. However, its reach extends beyond console walls. On PC, the game has so far amassed a peak concurrent player count of 276,364 on Steam, showcasing its appeal to a diverse audience. Crossplay support further bolsters this, streamlining matchmaking and demonstrating the advantages of multiplatform availability.
While PS5 and PC aren’t short of players willing to stake their lives for liberty, the game’s popularity (and increasingly difficult new missions) has some asking for backup. So much so that everywhere you look on social media, you’ll find PlayStation players begging Arrowhead Game Studios and PlayStation Studios to port the game over to Xbox, with some even starting a petition.
Helldivers 2’s latest update, focusing on defense missions against the Automaton menace, has proven to be a formidable challenge for players. The missions, particularly the “Retrieve Essential Personnel” levels, have tested every players’ strategies and teamwork, leading to widespread discussion about the best tactics for success. This difficulty spike has sparked debates, with players sharing tips and expressing frustration over the relentless waves of enemies, and with many asking for reinforcements.
Considering that most Xbox players grew up on Halo and Gears of War, you could argue that they’ve been trained their whole lives to hunt down and destroy those pesky automatons.
All jokes aside, it’s been incredibly heartwarming seeing Helldivers 2 foster camaraderie and kindship among traditionally competing players, transcending console rivalries. Helldivers 2‘s success on PC is indicative of an ongoing shift towards more multiplatform releases, which is a strategy that could benefit both the game’s community and its developers.
Sony and Arrowhead haven’t announced plans for an Xbox release, but this newfound unity could very well force some welcome changes in due time.
For now, however, Helldivers 2 remains frustratingly exclusive to PS5. Microsoft Gaming CEO, Phil Spencer, recently expressed his disappointment over this in an interview with Game File’s Stephen Totilo, highlighting the missed opportunity for industry growth.
I keep seeing PlayStation players on social media begging for Xbox players to be able to play Helldivers 2 since they need reinforcements to fight the robots and I gotta say, is this the game to bridge the hatred between both fanbases?? 😂😂😂 #Helldivers2 pic.twitter.com/2zmKMFo8NN
— Kevan (@Sneakinrican_) February 17, 2024
As Helldivers 2 continues to captivate players, the call for an Xbox port highlight a change in the changing dynamics of the gaming industry, where the player experience and community engagement are becoming paramount.
Unfortunately, with how long these things usually take, Xbox players won’t be taking to the skies anytime soon.
The good news is that Arrowhead can relax for now. Heading into the weekend, the company’s CEO expressed confidence in the game’s servers holding up amidst an expected influx of players. While there are still issues about server capacity, the situation is going a lot better than last week. You can only imagine the chaos if somehow Xbox players joined in on the fun as things stand.
On the flip side, PC and PS5 players will have to hold the line for now and stave off surprise Automaton invasions.
