Helldivers 2 launches on Xbox in August

Xbox today revealed that multiplayer game Helldivers 2 is launching on Xbox Series X/S on August 26. The game, which originally launched on February 2024, was published by Sony, perennial rival of Microsoft. It was also previously exclusive on console to PlayStation consoles. Its August 26 launch date is the same as Gear of War: Reloaded, which brings a formerly Xbox-exclusive game to PlayStation.
The reason why this is significant is that, while Xbox has undertaken a multiplatform strategy for its first-person titles — which appears to have worked, insofar as sales figures for PlayStation goes — Sony has not thus far reciprocated. PlayStation exclusives remain PlayStation exclusives. While Helldivers 2 launched on PC, its launch on Xbox is still a surprise and the first sign that Xbox’s efforts to expand release platforms might be reciprocal.
Mikael Eriksson, the game’s director at developer Arrowhead Studios, alluded to this divide, saying, “We know gamers have been asking for this for some time and we are so excited to bring more Helldivers into our game. We have so much more in store for the future months and years – and the more players we have the more stories we can tell! The fight for Super Earth has only just begun.”
Helldivers 2 is certainly not hurting for players or interest — it was the top-selling game in the month it launched, according to Circana. The launch on Xbox will likely boost the overall player pool, as it supports crossplay with all platforms. Pre-orders for both the regular game and the Super Citizen Edition open today.