Sony Interactive Entertainment
It bugs Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer that Arrowhead Game Studios and Sony Interactive Entertainment’sHelldivers 2is not on Xbox . In a late audience withGame File , Spencer posit that he ’s “ not exactly sure who it helps in the manufacture by not being on Xbox , ” even though he empathise that “ there ’s a bequest in console table gaming that we ’re going to benefit by transportation game and not putting them on other places . ”
That raises a honorable motion : ShouldHelldivers 2come to Xbox Series X / S ? No architectural plan for that are announced at this time . Although Spencer is likely saying Sony should do this because it would line up withMicrosoft ’s current strategy , I do n’t think it would be such a bad theme once we ’re a ways out from this console exclusive ’s launching . At the very least , the wild successHelldivers 2has seen on PC proves that PlayStation may benefit from finally secrete more of its games on other platforms . The fellowship already seems keenly aware of that , too .
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Helldivers 2launched on PS5 as a console exclusive on February 8 . Over a week after its launching , it appears in second place , right betweenFortniteandCall of responsibility : Modern Warfare III , on the PlayStation Store ’s “ Top 10 games in your rural area ” plane section on PS5 . That ’s an impressive exploit for a Sony - issue multiplayer secret plan with relatively low prelaunch plug . But it is doing just as well , if not better , on PC .
According todata from SteamDB , the coincidental player tally of Helldivers 2 has strive 255,189 player on Steam , an all - clip heights for a PlayStation personal computer release . It ’s maintaining around 200,000 concurrent player on that platform alone as I ’m writing this . That ’s a ton of players thatHelldivers 2just would n’t have had it been lock as a console table exclusive , and this cooperative multiplayer game is all the better for it . Crossplay reinforcement and a multiplatform departure have even helped with the secret plan ’s matchmaking struggles , as I ’ve been capable to group up with PC players more systematically than with PS5 participant .
Helldivers 2is expand as a multiplayer game , and part of that success is because it ’s available on PC . This game being a hit on PC is something Sony ca n’t ignore going forward , and I think it ’s cognizant of that . During a Q&A following the exit of its third - quarter 2023 financial statement , Sony President Hiroki Totoki seemed bullish on embracing multiplatform releases , Video Games Chronicle cover .
“ In the past , we want to popularize consoles , and a first - party title ’s chief purpose was to make the console table pop , ” Totoki read . “ This is true , but there ’s a synergy to it , so if you have unassailable first - company content – not only on our console table but also other platforms , like computers – a first - party [ secret plan ] can be grown with multiplatform , and that can help operating net profit to improve , so that ’s another one we desire to proactively work on . I personally think there are chance out there for improvement of tolerance , so I would care to go strong-growing on improving our gross profit performance . ”
We are seeing more multiplayer first - party PlayStation form of address slated for PC from launch , likeFairgame$andConcord . Bungie’sMarathonrebootis even confirmed for Xbox Series X. There ’s a cleared slip in strategy at companies like Sony and Microsoft now because they ’re fundamentally noticing that they ’re leave money on the table by not produce their game more readily uncommitted . Of of course , there is a benefit to take a compelling console exclusive likeHelldivers 2 : it gives citizenry a ground to corrupt a PS5 . But year after its release , there will be muckle of other , raw console exclusives to take Helldivers 2 ’s place , and at that point , an Xbox release does n’t sound like such a speculative idea if it see to it live service support persist in and keeps the player count high .
Helldivers 2achieved a massive degree of succeeder without Xbox . In response to Spencer ’s argument to Game File , its status as a hit is undoubtedly helping out Arrowhead Game Studios and Sony . But , as a multiplayer secret plan still keep its lively serve years after release , doesHelldivers 2eventually coming to Xbox sound like a sorry idea ? To me , it does n’t . The sweet-flavored spot for first- and second - political party multiplatform releases ultimately lie somewhere between Totoki ’s and Spencer ’s sentiments .
I ’m OK with Xbox and PlayStation on occasion have a surprise console - undivided win , likeHi - Fi RushorHelldivers 2 . If it makes sense months or year later to bring those games to competing platforms or supercharge handiness by having them on PC from the start , as a player , I ’m fine reaping the benefits of multiplatform support , like bolstered thespian counts . PlayStation and Xbox still need exclusives to trace people to their respective platforms , but exclusivity should n’t matter much to players years after release , specially for multiplayer title of respect likeHelldivers 2 . PlayStation and Xbox are just steel — it ’s the quality and wellness of the game and the the great unwashed who make them that truly count .
Helldivers 2is available now for PC and PS5 .
