PlayStation Fans Want Helldivers 2 on Xbox

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PlayStation has been yearning for a multiplayer game that can hijack the online discourse about video games and get everyone’s attention, and now it has with Helldivers 2. The shooter has been on a winning streak breaking concurrent player records, and has led to a bizarre phenomenon: PlayStation fans want Helldivers 2 to be on Xbox as well.

The success of Helldivers 2 has led PlayStations players to file a petition for bringing it to Xbox. A Change.org petition for the same has amassed nearly 60,000 signatures in a week, with more voices joining in on social media. The petition is worded in a similar cheeky manner as the words spoken by the game’s patriotic propagandists. Frankly, it’s a brilliant way to call attention to the fact that Helldivers 2 would benefit from being accessible to more players.

“Beyond the confines of console allegiances, the echoes of solidarity resound among PC and PlayStation players alike,” reads an excerpt from the petition. “Forged in the fires of countless battles, these stalwart warriors stand united in their desire to see Helldivers 2 grace the Xbox platform. They understand that the true essence of Helldivers lies not in the hardware it inhabits, but in the unbreakable bonds forged in the heat of battle, transcending platform rivalries and uniting players under a single banner: the call of duty.”

Of course, a successful petition won’t guarantee the game’s release on PlayStation’s biggest rival. Still, there is a case to be made as both companies have started to embrace a multi-platform strategy. Helldivers 2 is the first PlayStation-published game to be released on PC simultaneously, and the results are surpassing everyone’s expectations. Xbox is already bringing some of its games to PlayStation. Helldivers 2 is not as heavily associated with the brand as Halo on Xbox, but given the industry’s current trajectory, it wouldn’t be surprising to see both companies crossing bridges.

But why do PlayStation fans want it on Xbox? This is partly because Helldivers 2 features a cooperative war campaign against its alien invaders. Every match contributes to a global scoreboard, with a new narrative emerging around the game’s meta-campaign.

It’s a fascinating phenomenon that has players reach out to others in hopes of recruiting more people for the war against the Terminids, Automatons and other enemies. Players have taken the game’s messaging to heart, wanting to “spread democracy” and “deliver sweet liberty” against all costs.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has also chimed in, saying that he would welcome the game on Xbox. "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," said Spencer. "If you try to twist yourself to say, like, somehow that benefited somebody somewhere."

Of course, Spencer has been going back and forth on his stance for a platform-agnostic future. Xbox will be bringing some of its games to PlayStation while still building exclusives for its platform and Spencer agrees that it’s a tough situation to be in. “There's a legacy in console gaming that we're going to benefit by shipping games and not putting them on other places. We do the same thing.”

If PlayStation does bring the game to Xbox, there’s no denying that it would help the game’s long-term health. Even if that were to be approved, it would potentially take months for it to be ported, and who knows whether the game will still have the same online presence then.

Until then, Helldivers 2 is available on PC and PS5.