One of the most surprising gaming announcements of the year was that PlayStation’s viral coop shooter hit, “Helldivers 2,” would be released on Xbox in August 2025.
It’s a landmark decision for the two platforms, which have long harboured a rivalry in platforms, games and communities. The Console Wars, as some call them, are now seemingly open to diplomacy.
According to Arrowhead Studios CEO Shams Jorjani, PlayStation was behind the decision to release the Sony-owned game on its main rival platform, coincidentally on the same date as the Xbox classic “Gears of War: Reloaded” goes the other way and releases on PlayStation 5 — so diplomacy seemingly goes both ways.
No matter the reason, it fulfils a long-demanded wish of the “Helldivers 2” community, who have begged for Xbox “reinforcements” at various points during the live service game’s viral updates (ask veteran players where they were during The Battle of Malevelon Creek or the Invasion of Super Earth to earn a thousand-yard stare). But the good news doesn’t stop there, since the ‘Bring the Boom’ Xbox trailer includes a musical nod to Xbox’s closest “Helldivers” equivalent.
The eyebrow-raising saxophone sting comes at the very end of the trailer, with a reinforcement pod landing in a Super Earth Megacity, soundtracked by “Song 04: Rain” — taken from the soundtrack of the 2009 hit “Halo 3: ODST.” The connection? That cult classic Xbox title stars some similarly orbitally deployed troopers as “Helldivers 2.”
This isn’t any official confirmation, but Jorjani once again took to Discord to discuss the tease. When asked to advise fans’ excitement for the potential content, he advised “prepare your pants,” adding a telling “muahahaha.”
Me n the boys Aug 26th in full ODST gear as we move on the next bug hive ( we immediately bought every ODST themed kit ) https://t.co/Ta93bvAFZk pic.twitter.com/zJRkiytDP0
— OperatorDrewski (@OperatorDrewski) August 12, 2025
For the uninitiated, “Helldivers 2” puts players in squads of four, deployed via orbitally fired ‘hellpods’ to complete objectives in the name of Super Earth and its doctrine of Managed Democracy. The game currently features three enemy factions: insectoid Tyranids, metallic Automatons and the domineering Illuminate.
All of the above are constantly warring in a galaxy crisscrossed by fluid territories and battlefields on planets of every temperature and climate. Players can deploy on the frontlines or far behind enemy lines, with the option to complete community objectives that may reward in-game bonuses or extra content, using a mixture of squad tactics and good old fashioned heavy ordnance to destroy the enemies of humanity. And freedom.
“Helldivers 2” is available on PlayStation 4/5 and PC now, and is set to release on Xbox Series X on Thursday, August 26th.