If someone had suggested to me ten years ago that Sony would launch one of its games on Xbox, I would have laughed it off. Yet, here we stand: Helldivers 2, a title I never envisioned on Xbox systems, is now accessible on Series X and Series S.
The release took place on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, featuring a Standard Edition priced at $39.99 and a Super Citizen Edition at $59.99. The global launch (1 a.m. PT / 4 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. BST) didn’t offer a preload option, so I monitored my download progress, which only demands around 35GB.
Cross-play enables me to partner with Xbox friends while gaming on PS5 or PC. However, the downside is the absence of cross-progression, meaning my achievements don’t carry over between platforms. Nonetheless, the ability to state “I’m diving with Xbox players tonight” feels surreal.
This isn’t merely a port; it’s a landmark event. Helldivers 2 is published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, representing the inaugural instance of PlayStation voluntarily releasing one of its primary live-service titles on Xbox.
That’s the surprising aspect. MLB The Show doesn’t count; Sony was required to share that franchise due to Major League Baseball. Yet here, Sony made the choice independently, without external influence or licensing obligations, simply welcoming Xbox players.
Shams Jorjani, Arrowhead’s CEO, even mentioned it as “one of the coolest things Sony has ever done” during a fan discussion on Discord, and I concur. Coming from a background steeped in the “console war” mentality, it feels both strange and refreshing to witness PlayStation and Xbox communities uniting.
Xbox didn’t just gain the game; it received fan service too. The Helldivers 2 × Halo: ODST Legendary Warbond launched alongside the port, introducing ODST-style armor, the iconic MA5C Assault Rifle, and the Magnum for approximately $15. It’s both humorous and appropriate: a PlayStation-published title debuting on Xbox, featuring Halo gear as a bonus. It feels like a glitch in the timeline.
In terms of performance, the Xbox edition holds strong. Series X provides 4K at ~30 FPS in Quality Mode or ~60 FPS at 1080p in Performance Mode. On Series S, Performance Mode stays close to 60 FPS at 1080p. Essentially, it excels where it counts the most: during intense gameplay.
A noteworthy player surge
On its launch date, Helldivers 2 drew in more than 200,000 players across all platforms. Steam alone recorded over 114,000 concurrent users, its highest since June. Community estimates indicate even higher figures, with some fans claiming 300,000–350,000 concurrent players across platforms.
I doubt this is a coincidence. The Halo crossover played a role, but prior to the Xbox release, player numbers hovered around 50,000–60,000. This represented a substantial boost for the game. It didn’t surpass the all-time peak of 458,709 concurrent players recorded in February 2024, but it resembled a resurgence.
Why this is significant
I recall when Helldivers 2 first debuted on PS5 and PC in early 2024. It was the little co-op shooter that could — chaotic, hilarious, and unexpectedly addictive. It went on to sell over 12 million copies within its initial 12 weeks, which is remarkable for a title that sounds niche regarding “managed democracy.”
Now, witnessing its debut on Xbox feels distinct. It’s not just about increasing the player base for a great game. It’s about observing Sony, a company that built its foundation on exclusivity, altering its unspoken rule. To me, it signals a future where the “console war” becomes less significant than fostering communities across platforms.
So yes, democracy is genuinely expanding. Helldivers 2 is now accessible on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. The Standard Edition is priced at $39.99, the Super Citizen Edition at $59.99, and the ODST Warbond at $15. If you’d told me in 2015 that PlayStation would bring its own game to Xbox in 2025, I would have deemed it impossible. Now? I simply deem it progress.