Xbox and PlayStation Trade Third-Person Shooters on the Same Date
Halo x Helldivers when?
The console wars are over. As unbelievable as that might sound at first, it’s true. The road ahead is even funnier. Arrowhead Studios announced during a recent stream that Helldivers 2, a PlayStation-published title, is coming to Xbox Series S|X in just a couple of months.
This comes after Xbox released several first-party games on PS5, including its flagship racing title, Forza Horizon 5, earlier this year. With several more on the way, it marks the end of a bitter war that once fueled competition and fought tirelessly for our attention.
Xbox Gets Helldivers, PlayStation Gets Gears
Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox Series S|X on August 26, 2025, which happens to be the same day Gears of War: Reloaded launches on PS5. That doesn’t feel like a coincidence, and it’s pretty symbolic if you ask me. Gears of War is practically synonymous with the Xbox brand. It defined the Xbox 360 generation with multiple sequels and even a prequel, and now it’s headed to PlayStation.
Similarly, Helldivers 2 is PlayStation’s only major live-service success so far. It launched simultaneously on PS5 and PC and has sold over 15 million units since. Expanding it to more platforms makes perfect sense, especially in light of Xbox’s evolving release strategy. This marks, at least to some degree, the end of the exclusivity wars on both sides.
DOOM: The Dark Ages launched day one on PS5 earlier this year, and upcoming Xbox-published titles like Ninja Gaiden 4 and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 will follow the same pattern. For Xbox, it’s not just about live-service anymore. PS5 is now just another storefront for their catalog. Releasing Call of Duty on PlayStation is always going to be a win for Xbox. Even after the 30% cut, they make far more money by having their game on the most popular platform than they would without it.
PlayStation, meanwhile, has been more selective. Helldivers 2 is the only announced live-service game heading to Xbox, and that too, more than a year after launch. That said, Bungie’s upcoming Marathon is set to release day one on all platforms, including Xbox and PC. Other live-service games, regardless of publisher, are likely to adopt the same approach.
The industry’s obsession with chasing the next big GAAS hit means accessibility across platforms is now a priority. Exclusivity, at least in the live-service space, is becoming a relic of the past. I’m not saying Concord would’ve been a hit on Xbox, but one thing’s for sure: Xbox players will be suiting up for Helldivers 2.
Does this mean PlayStation will eventually release its first-party exclusives, like Horizon, on Xbox as well? I can’t say for sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised anymore. I definitely would have been if you’d asked me three years ago.
