Helldivers 2 has quickly gone beyond just being a multiplayer game with co-op mechanics. It has become something that every gamer out there wants to try their hands on at least once. And from the looks of its player base, it sure seems like many of them are indeed getting what they want, as it’s available on both the PlayStation 5 and PC. Another thing that’s making this game much more popular is its cross-play feature, which allows PC and PS5 players to team up.
With an ever-changing world, incredibly accessible gameplay mechanics, and a literal living game master at the helm, it looks like this game will never end. And with this game’s prolonged lifestyle, it looks like its player base will continue to increase, but fans of one platform are not getting a chance at this game at all.
Phil Spencer is not loving the absence of Helldivers 2 on Xbox
The war for exclusives is coming to an end, at least for one platform holder. Yes, Microsoft is now pushing its games toward other platforms. Sea of Thieves will be launching on PlayStation 5 soon; Ori games are already on the Nintendo Switch; and many others are set to follow. But no other platform holder has been so generous.
It appears that Microsoft is the only publisher pushing for this. Phil Spencer is spearheading this change very enthusiastically, especially after they purchased Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. It looks like they are in a hurry to start making that money back.
Call of Duty is already multi-platform, and the rumors of Starfield making this transition have started dropping in too. It seems like Microsoft is in its initial stages of making this big change from being a third-party developer to other consoles. No doubt Xbox console would keep on selling as it still holds a sizeable share of the gaming market.
And this sizeable install base is where things are getting complicated. Fans who own Xbox consoles cannot help but wonder why Arrowhead Game Studios, the developers of Helldivers 2, have not released the game on Xbox. Some even started a petition to make it exclusive to their choice of platform.
One detail that most gamers are missing, though, is the fact that this game was developed by Arrowhead Game Studios, but its publisher is none other than Sony. And everyone knows how hard they have been trying to get their own live service train going. Now that this train is on the tracks, they would not want to share it with Microsoft.
Microsoft’s Phil Spencer has some very different thoughts on this, though. Recently, in Stephen Totilo’s Game File Newsletter, Phil Spencer made an interesting comment giving his thoughts on the state of exclusivity in gaming.
“I will say, when I look at a game like Helldivers 2 — and it’s a great game, kudos to the team shipping on PC and PlayStation — I’m not exactly sure who it helps in the industry by not being on Xbox, if you try to twist yourself to say, like, somehow that benefited somebody somewhere.”
But this can also be said about the large catalog of games that are currently only on Xbox. Starfield was changed from being multiplatform to just Xbox and PC exclusive, as were many other titles. Hence, Phil Spencer might want something, but this time it’s not on him; it’s on Sony.
But a lot of fans are on Microsoft’s side with this one
While Sony has yet to make a decision and announce it in regards to the Xbox version of Helldivers 2, fans all over have decided to voice their own opinion. Surprisingly, many of the current Helldivers 2 players have decided to support Microsoft on this one. They actually want the game to make its way to Xbox.
This is the first time I've ever seen PlayStation and Xbox players almost unanimously call for an exclusive to go to its competing platform. Helldivers 2 temporarily brought an end to the console wars, democracy is beautiful pic.twitter.com/43vls1OMOZ
— Mischief (@MischiefsYT) February 17, 2024
we need xbox players help 😭😭 #HellDivers2 #Helldivers #PlayStation #Xbox pic.twitter.com/tvoyI30eBx
— falcy (@falc1no) February 18, 2024
We also need HELLDIVERS2 on Xbox. For democracy, of course.
— dcbrooks68 (@DCBrooks12) March 3, 2024
It makes sense too, as it was stated by the developer of Helldivers 2 that more concurrent users in Helldivers 2 mean more chances they have of winning that ongoing galactic war.
