Helldivers 2 has been one of 2024’s biggest success stories, bringing chaotic, team-based alien-slaying action to PS5 and PC.
Now, it’s finally expanding its reach—Arrowhead Game Studios just confirmed that Helldivers 2 will be launching on Xbox Series X/S in August 2025. But there’s a catch: it’s not coming to Xbox Game Pass.
That detail was confirmed by Arrowhead’s community manager, Baskinator, on the official Helldivers 2 Discord.
When a fan asked whether the game was headed to Game Pass, Baskinator shut it down pretty bluntly: “Definitely not. No plans to bring it to Game Pass.” So, if you’re planning to join the Galactic War on Xbox, you’ll need to buy the game outright.
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A Win for Xbox, But Not Game Pass Users
This is still big news for Xbox players, as it means they’ll finally get to experience the cooperative mayhem that’s made Helldivers 2 such a hit.
The game became the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios release ever, thanks to its addictive loop of team coordination, alien extermination, and brutal friendly fire.
Even after weathering drama like a review-bombing incident (which the devs cheekily responded to with an in-game cosmetic), its community has stayed strong—and now it’s only going to get bigger.
That said, skipping Game Pass is definitely a letdown for some fans. With multiplayer games, especially ones that thrive on large, active player bases, a day-one launch on Game Pass can really juice those early numbers.
Just look at Rematch, the soccer-style multiplayer game that passed a million players on its first day—no doubt thanks in part to being available to Game Pass subscribers at launch.
Could Helldivers 2 Come to Game Pass Later?
Never say never, but for now, the answer is a firm no. Baskinator’s response doesn’t suggest any kind of plan to bring Helldivers 2 to Game Pass—at launch or later.
Of course, plans can always change. It’s possible Arrowhead could decide to add the game to the service after it’s been out on Xbox for a while, especially if they’re looking to boost player numbers down the line.
But if you’re hoping to squad up with friends for free on launch day (August 26, 2025), don’t count on it.
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Game Pass Isn’t the Powerhouse It Used to Be
This also lines up with a broader trend: Game Pass, while still a major part of Xbox’s ecosystem, isn’t the must-have launch platform it once seemed destined to become.
In recent months, both Xbox and PlayStation have eased off aggressive pushes for day-one releases on their subscription platforms.
Industry analysts have started to question whether services like Game Pass and PS Plus can really drive the future of gaming the way people thought just a couple of years ago.
So yeah, Helldivers 2 skipping Game Pass is a bummer for subscribers—but it’s still a huge win for Xbox players overall.
Come August 2025, they’ll finally get to jump in and start calling down airstrikes, fighting bugs, and accidentally blowing up their own teammates like the rest of us.
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