With Helldivers 2 finally taking to the skies on February 8, millions of patriots across PC and PlayStation 5 have dived headfirst into defending Super Earth and fighting for liberty. The game’s success has been nothing short of meteoric, boasting a record-breaking launch on Steam and selling over a million copies in its opening weekend alone. Yet, amidst all of this celebration, a growing number of gamers find themselves on the sidelines, posing a critical question: “Is Helldivers 2 on Xbox?”
The answer, as it stands, is no. Helldivers 2 isn’t available on Xbox Series and X, nor are there current plans to release it on Microsoft’s gaming consoles. This decision traces back to the game’s publisher, Sony Interactive Entertainment, who has chosen to launch it on PlayStation 5 and PC exclusively. This move has understandably left Xbox owners questioning why it isn’t on their preferred platform, especially in light of Microsoft’s recent promise of making former Xbox-exclusive games accessible on other platforms, including PS5.
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer expressed his sentiments in an interview with Game File, highlighting the perplexity surrounding the absence of Helldivers 2 on Xbox. While Spencer understands the industry legacy of console exclusivity but questioned the benefit of making the shooter exclusive to Xbox. Despite understanding the rationale behind such decisions, Spencer’s comments reflect a broader industry conversation about the benefits and drawbacks of platform exclusivity.
Even the players, who’ve found themselves in desperate need of backup, starting petitions and are all but begging for Arrowhead Game Studios and Sony to port Helldivers 2 to Xbox.
Sony’s decision to keep Helldivers 2 off Xbox isn’t without precedent. The original Helldivers game, released in 2015, remains a PlayStation exclusive.
While the absence of Helldivers 2 on Xbox is a source of disappointment, its exceptional PC performance is worth noting, where it has attracted an increasingly vast player base. This is proof of the potential benefits of multiplatform releases, not only in terms of accessibility but also in fostering a more inclusive gaming community. This success raises the question of whether Sony might reconsider its stance on exclusivity in the future, especially given the evolving landscape of the gaming industry and the increasing emphasis on cross-platform play.
In the meantime, Xbox players longing to fight for liberty and take on swarms of Terminids and Automatons will have to look elsewhere for their cooperative gaming fix. The game’s thriving community on PlayStation and PC, coupled with its critical and commercial success, highlights the appeal of Helldivers 2 and the potential for even greater success were it to embrace a more inclusive release strategy.
