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It’s impossible to ignore the smash success that Helldivers 2 has had in the gaming sphere. Players around the world have been sharing stories of their successful (and failed) missions against the bugs and robots in the fight for democracy.
As the good word has spread about this third-person, co-op shooter, Xbox fans have realized a harsh reality: Helldivers 2 isn’t available on that platform. But if it’s on PS5 and PC, why isn’t Helldivers 2 on Xbox? Let’s answer that question for you.
Key Takeaways
- Helldivers 2 is a smash-hit success in the gaming world — but only on PS5 and PC.
- It is highly unlikely that we will see a Helldivers 2 Xbox release, barring a rare, unexpected decision from Sony.
- Sony funded and owns Helldivers 2, choosing to keep it exclusive to boost PlayStation and PC sales over Xbox.
- Console exclusives, like Helldivers 2 for PlayStation, entice players to purchase specific consoles, adding unique value to each gaming ecosystem.
Why Isn’t Helldivers 2 on Xbox?
Helldivers 2 was developed by Arrowhead Games and published by Sony. So, while the studio isn’t technically a first-party PlayStation studio, Sony did fund and own the game, and it is their choice on which platforms it releases on and when.
Xbox is PlayStation’s biggest competitor in the console space so Sony would rather keep the Helldivers 2 platforms to PlayStation and PC.
Will Helldivers 2 Come to Xbox?
Sorry, but you should not expect Helldivers 2 to ever be released on an Xbox console.
There’s always a one-in-a-million shot that a surprise decision is made internally at Sony, but so far, only one PlayStation-published series has ever come to Xbox, and that is MLB The Show.
The only reason for the exception is that the MLB baseball league itself mandated it rather than a proactive choice from Sony and the PlayStation team.
And yes, there is a Helldivers 2 Xbox petition.
What Are Console Exclusives?
A console exclusive is a game that only appears on that console and none of the competitors. Nintendo is the most precious with its exclusives. Titles like Mario, Zelda, and Kirby only exist on Nintendo consoles and nowhere else.
Aside from Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox console exclusives are a little more fluid. Xbox has recently taken four previously exclusive games and put them on PlayStation and Switch, while PlayStation has been putting out its exclusives on PC.
If you want to play Mario, you have to buy a Nintendo. If you want to play God of War, you have to buy a PlayStation. And if you want to play Halo, you have to buy an Xbox.
PlayStation vs Xbox Exclusives
Currently, both Xbox and PlayStation hang on to a few console exclusives to draw people to its platform over the other. Xbox’s notable exclusives include Halo, Gears of War, and Forza.
PlayStation has a larger list of exclusives, but a few big names include The Last of Us, Spider-Man, God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, and, of course, Helldivers 2.
Both companies also will occasionally pay to make third-party games (games made by studios not owned by PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo) to be exclusives. PlayStation has been doing this with franchises like Final Fantasy for a while, and Xbox will have games like the upcoming STALKER 2 as an exclusive.
More often now they are timed exclusives, meaning after 6 months or a year those games could be released on other platforms.
Which Console Should I Buy for Games?
There’s no direct comparison to determine which platform has “better” exclusives, since it is all a matter of taste. If you like shooters more, you may prefer an Xbox, while someone else who enjoys action-adventure or superhero games would lean towards PlayStation.
Xbox has already begun distancing itself from exclusives as a whole, and there might be an argument against getting an Xbox when you can play those same games plus PlayStation exclusives on PS5.
The Bottom Line
People may like to complain about exclusives, and it does sting to not be able to play a game because you can’t afford both systems. However, the console wars benefit consumers more than it hurts them.
The more competition we have in both hardware and software, the more incentive there is for companies to do whatever they can to win us over. That’s the true spirit of the console wars.
