Helldivers 2 Marches onto Xbox in 2025 with Full Crossplay but No Game Pass
Xbox players, prepare to descend into the chaos of interplanetary warfare—Helldivers 2 is confirmed for release on Xbox Series X|S on August 26, 2025. Nearly 18 months after its initial launch on PlayStation 5 and PC, Arrowhead Game Studios is bringing its co-op shooter to Xbox, with technical support from Nixxes Software and publishing duties handled by none other than Sony Interactive Entertainment—a rarity in itself given the longstanding PS-Xbox rivalry. While it’s undeniably a big win for cross-platform fans, there are nuances.
Cross-Play That Delivers, Minus the Progress
In an era where gamers increasingly expect their experiences to travel with them, Helldivers 2 is offering full cross-platform multiplayer from day one. That means squads can fire up their liberty liberating routines with friends across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC without issue. Whether you’re raining hellfire with stratagems or accidentally nuking your team mid-extract, the shared chaos is fully intact.
But there’s a big asterisk: no cross-progression. Arrowhead has confirmed there’s no system in place for transferring progress or purchases between platforms. So, if you’ve already logged hundreds of freedom-fueled hours on PlayStation or Steam, don’t expect your XP, unlocks, or cosmetics to carry over when you boot it up on Xbox. It’s a fresh start—or a hard pass—for some.
Game Pass Denied
Anyone hoping for a ride into Super Earth’s hellscapes through Xbox Game Pass can stop dreaming. Arrowhead has been explicit: Helldivers 2 will not land on Microsoft’s subscription service. “Definitely not. No plans to bring it to Game Pass,” an Arrowhead community manager said without sugarcoating. That sets Helldivers 2 alongside the small but growing batch of Sony-published titles heading to Xbox—without the deal-sweetening of Game Pass access that shuts down typical Xbox release fanfare.
Instead, Xbox players will need to go the traditional route. Pre-orders are already live on the Microsoft Store with two editions available. There’s the Standard Edition at $39.99, which includes just the base game, and the Super Citizen Edition at $59.99 for the cosmetic enthusiast who wants extra gear and digital bragging rights. The bonus for pre-ordering either version is a trio of exclusive armor sets that lean hard into the game’s satirical militaristic aesthetic.
What You Get on Xbox
One area where Helldivers 2 doesn’t cut corners is its technical lineup. Xbox gamers can expect full 4K Ultra HD visuals, 60+ FPS performance, Dolby Atmos sound, and keyboard and mouse support—even on console. That opens the door for custom loadouts, better aiming options, and chaos management that feels more fluid for players who crave precision.
Online co-op is still the star of the show, supporting two to four Helldivers locked, loaded, and ready to botch a rescue mission or obliterate a Terminid nest. While it’s entirely playable solo, the magic gets amplified when you and your friends are shouting about friendly fire accidents and botched stratagems mid-mission. The support for voice chat, native console keyboard and mouse, and matchmaking features will be core to how the game holds up in Xbox’s online culture.
No Disc for Democracy
It’s also worth noting that there won’t be a physical edition for Xbox. Whether this is a practical choice or another layer of subtle platform politics is unclear, but for those who collect jewel cases or trade used games, Helldivers 2 on Xbox will live purely in the digital realm.
That said, it does reach the platform without any notable content cuts. The same pre-order items, same timed drops, and same in-game premium currency system—all are intact. If you’re jumping in on Xbox for the first time, you’ll be entering a live service ecosystem that’s been active for over a year, which may come with both benefits (refined mechanics, a wider player base) and drawbacks (potential for loot imbalance, steeper onboarding).
The Bigger Picture
The Xbox release of Helldivers 2 isn’t just about one game—it signals a tangible, if cautious, shift in Sony’s publishing behavior. Much like with MLB The Show, Helldivers 2 marks another example of Sony IP appearing on rival hardware with parity in experience (minus Game Pass). If more releases follow suit, this could become the norm rather than the exception.
But all platform politics aside, Helldivers 2 stands on its gameplay chops. It’s dumb fun with unexpected tactical depth, gorgeous mayhem, and a death-reward loop that keeps players laughing through their failures. Xbox players now get to join in—just don’t bring your old armor with you.
