Console exclusivity is becoming increasingly loose as the years go on. Xbox is putting their Gears of War remake on PlayStation on the very same day that Helldivers II finds its way on Xbox. But PlayStation isn’t adopting Microsoft’s ‘play anywhere’ initiative; after all, many first-party titles still find themselves locked to PS5 and PC. Oh, and remember Horizon Lego Adventures on Switch? Sony’s been sharing their franchises with platforms that make sense.
This doesn’t spell the end of console exclusivity, or even timed exclusivity on Sony’s part, but it does bode well for the future of the Helldivers II ecosystem and that of other titles. Online multiplayer games are meant to be played with others, and if that extends across many different platforms for the sake of ‘democracy’, the more the merrier. So, what can Xbox players look forward to with the Helldivers II port? Here’s 15 details you need to know about Helldivers II on Xbox.
Nixxes Software is Handling the Port
Ports can be hit or miss these days, so knowing the port developer can be a key bit of info in determining if it’ll be solid or not. In this regard, Helldivers II seems to be in good hands. Sony’s subsidiary studio, Nixxes Software, is tasked with converting Helldivers II to Xbox Series X and S. Nixxes has been in the port business since the original Legacy of Kain Dreamcast games. You may know them now by their string of PlayStation to PC ports, which includes the Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition, Marvel’s Spider-Man and Miles Morales, and the near-flawless Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart PC port.
Cross-Play
So, the port won’t likely be plagued by optimization issues based on developer pedigree, but there’s even more good news. Helldivers II on Xbox supports full cross-play across PS5, PC, and Xbox. Considering its cooperative identity and framework, Helldivers II greatly benefits from opening up its ecosystem to more players.
Series S and Series X Performance Comparison
That expanded ecosystem doesn’t leave Xbox Series S players hanging, though, at least not quite. Just expect a slight bump down in performance. The game can’t run at 60 FPS with the full graphics suite on a base PS5 – that’s what the ‘performance/quality’ mode compromise is for. And considering a Series S has less power than a PS5, we expect it to run at 30 FPS unless a boatload of graphical settings are tuned down. The Series X version, by comparison, should run similarly to the base PS5. Helldivers II has an ‘optimized for the Series X’ label on the official site and will display at 4k HD in graphics mode while running at a targeted 60fps in performance mode.
Xbox Controls
One of the big differences between the Xbox and PS5 versions is the controller. The Xbox Elite and basic controllers have advanced rumble capabilities with haptic feedback, so you’ll be able to feel the visceral nature of the battlefield in a similar way that PlayStation players do. However, the triggers don’t have variable resistance like DualSense, which lessens the realism of aiming and shooting certain guns. The closest Xbox gets is with its Impulse Triggers, which are basic rumble motors on the shoulders of the controller. In general, Xbox players will find the viscerality and controls comparable to the PS5 experience.
Updates Since Launch
Being the live service game that it is, Helldivers II has gone through a number of patches and updates since its February 2024 launch. This is great for Xbox players, as they get to enjoy a largely bug-free (unless we’re talking about space bugs) experience with lots of updated content. The game has had three major updates: Escalation of Freedom, Omens of Tyranny, and Heart of Democracy. These updates added additional biomes, new difficulty settings, new enemy and unit types, and fresh missions and features.
Latest and Future Updates
The latest update to the game wasn’t a major one, though, being one of many Warbond additions. This new Control Group Warbond includes a seven-barreled volley gun, bouncing arc grenade, laser sentry with infinite firing capacity, and a number of support items and cosmetics. The next update is set to drop alongside the Xbox port on August 26th, though we have nothing to go off of besides leaks and speculation as to what the update will contain.
In-Game Currency and Monetization
If you’ve played any live service game, you’re probably familiar with battle passes. Well, Warbonds are basically battle pass rewards with no FOMO time-gating, allowing players to freely choose between the full catalogue of items without worry of them leaving. Warbonds and Armor packs are purchased through the game’s Super Credits currency. You find these Super Credits by exploring maps, or by using real money.
Story
One of the main draws of Helldivers II is its tongue-in-cheek setting and story. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet succeeds in drawing us in with its compelling setting. You find yourself, one of many shock troopers, fighting to defeat the escaped Terminid bugs, Automatans, and an alien race hell-bent on stopping Super Earth’s ‘democracy’. While the story informs everything you do in the game, it isn’t filled with overly long cutscenes or a cinematic campaign structure.
Mission Structure
Instead, the game’s core structure revolves around co-op campaigns (called Operations) which have a handful of Missions each. The Missions have a random assortment of mandatory primary objectives and secondary ones that grant higher XP and rewards. The game isn’t lacking in objective variety. With over 100 different objective types (ICBM launches being a favorite), players will have to spend well over 50 hours to experience them all.
Four-Player Co-op
And you’re never by your lonesome in your quest to spread democracy. The game connects you with three other random players in four-player mission sessions. Want optimum coordination with those you know? Simply set Matchmaking to Friends Only or Private and invite some pals for some bug exterminating chaos. Just mind your aiming as friendly fire is constantly on in Helldivers II.
Planets and Biomes
Missions rarely get repetitive thanks to the many randomly generated maps and sheer number of planetary biomes available. To date, Helldivers II features 261 planets across with an impressive 23 different biomes. The variety isn’t just for looks either. Each biome comes with difficulty disclaimer with the more extreme ones calling for better armors. The whirling fire cyclones across the Scorched Wasteland provide more challenge than the tame Ionized Grassland.
Weapon Upgrades
Feeling under-equipped for the mission? That’s what weapon upgrades are for. You gain weapon experience upon completing Missions, and turning difficulty up multiplies EXP further. For customization junkies, there’s plenty to personalize through the Armory. Weapons and armors can be outfitted with skins, different attachments, and of course, upgraded stats.
Ship Upgrades
Even your your base of operations, the Super Destroyer ship, can also be customized and upgraded. Just find Ship Modules on any given map to spend them on various sections on your ship. Upgrades to the Bridge, for example, may improve your Helipad deployment steering while the Robotics Workshop may be upgraded to speed up Sentry targeting.
Stratagems
One of the main things to upgrade are Stratagems. Stratagems are actually carried over from the first Helldivers game, aiding players with all manner of orbital drop weaponry. Calling in an airstrike bombardment after punching in a code sequence never gets old and remains one of the funnest aspects of the Helldivers II experience. There’s close to a hundred different Stratagems in the game, ranging from mountable turrets to weaponized vehicles, and there’s more to come with future updates.
Galactic War Progress
Your battles for Super Earth don’t go unnoticed. Players’ victories and losses contribute to an ongoing Galactic War map that charts the live status of planets that have been liberated and how far the Super Earth forces progressed in the war. This is all driven by players across all platforms of the game in real-time.
Release date, Price, Editions
Gamers rejoice, Helldivers II on Xbox only costs $39.99. That’s for the basic version anyway. The $59.99 Super Citizen edition includes a pretty sizable set of additional in-game weapons and items, including: DP-53 Savior of the Free Armor Set, ‘Will of the People’ Cape, ‘MP-98 Knight’ Weapon, Super Citizen Status, Stratagem Hero Ship Game, and a Premium Warbond Token. Xbox players can join the fight for democracy when Helldivers II for Xbox releases on August 26th.