In a move no one saw coming, Sony has officially announced that Helldivers 2 will launch on Xbox Series X/S on August 26, 2025. This marks the first time a PlayStation-published game outside the MLB The Show series will be available on Xbox platforms, signaling a big change in Sony’s approach to console exclusivity.
Helldivers 2, the cooperative third-person shooter developed by Arrowhead Game Studios, has been a massive success since its initial release on PlayStation 5 and PC in early 2024. The game sold over 12 million copies in just 12 weeks, making it one of Sony’s most successful live-service launches ever. Players have embraced its challenging gameplay, satirical sci-fi universe, and emphasis on teamwork as they fight for “Super Earth” against alien threats.
The Xbox version will launch roughly 18 months after the original release, but with one big catch: no cross-progression at launch. Xbox players will need to start fresh, unable to transfer achievements, unlocks, or character progress from the PlayStation or PC versions. Details about crossplay between platforms still haven’t been confirmed.
What makes this announcement stand out even more is that the Xbox release will carry the “PlayStation Publishing LLC” label—a first for the industry. Unlike MLB The Show, which is published on Xbox by Major League Baseball instead of Sony, Helldivers 2 marks Sony directly publishing on Microsoft’s platform.
This change comes as the gaming industry keeps moving away from rigid console exclusivity, especially for live-service games that get better with bigger player bases. Sony seems to be more focused on keeping more people playing every month and boosting ongoing revenue, rather than just selling hardware—at least for some games.
“Any game that will live or die by its online community should be on as many systems as possible with crossplay,” noted one industry watcher, pointing out the straightforward business reason for the decision.
Interestingly, the Xbox release date lines up with Microsoft’s launch of Gears of War Reloaded, which could create some real competition on the platform. Industry watchers are paying close attention to see if this focus on reaching more players will carry over to other Sony live-service games, while big single-player hits might still stay PlayStation-only, or head to other platforms later on.
Freedom for Super Earth citizens
For Xbox players, this news means a rare chance to check out one of PlayStation’s most talked-about recent titles. The game’s intense difficulty, friendly fire moments, and humor have built a loyal fanbase—and pretty soon, Xbox Series X/S owners get to join in.
While the lack of cross-progression is a letdown for anyone hoping to jump between platforms, bringing the game to Xbox should make for a bigger, more active community and more excitement for future updates and events down the line.
