Sony’s Helldivers 2 Is the Perfect Candidate to End the Console War With Xbox

Key Highlights

• With Helldivers 2 coming to Xbox, it’s safe to say that the console war has come to an end.
• This might also pave the way for more PlayStation exclusives to come Xbox.
• With the console war now over, both these companies are choosing to put gamers first.

The console war between PlayStation and Xbox is finally over as Helldivers 2 has made its way to Microsoft’s gaming console. Lasting for over a decade, both Sony and Microsoft held onto titles developed by studios under their control, releasing it exclusively for their platforms. They did this with the impression that players who wanted to play a particular game would have to purchase the console it released on. 

Although these console exclusives came out on PC via Steam, and then later on through Epic Games Store, these releases happened at a later date. All that, however, is a thing of the past, at least for now. Helldivers 2 is the first PlayStation exclusive to arrive on Xbox, and is likely to pave the way for more titles in the future. 

PlayStation vs Xbox Was a Rivalry That Defined a Generation

For years, there’s always been a debate over which console is better. In terms of popularity, the PlayStation 5 takes the prize, but the Xbox Series X is not to be trifled with either. Both are exceptional pieces of technology, and can handle some really demanding games. When it comes to console exclusivity, both these consoles held on to some really iconic franchises; Forza and Halo for Xbox and Bloodborne and God of War for PlayStation. 

These franchises defined these consoles, and the only way to play them was to either own the console, or wait till they came out on PC. Unfortunately, some of the PlayStation exclusives like Bloodborne, aren’t available on PC either. So, you’ll either need to download multiple mods to play them on your Windows desktop, or get your hands on a PlayStation.

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Xbox was the first company to pull the plug on this console exclusivity by bringing Indiana Jones and The Great Circle to the PS5. They followed this by releasing Forza, which was a massive success on PC, and was a direct competitor to GranTourismo, a racing sim exclusive to Sony’s console. With this move, Microsoft made it clear that they didn’t really care much about their console sales. Instead, they wanted to make their software available for everyone, irrespective of the platform they were on. 

While, this could’ve created an environment where Sony would have a monopoly over how they priced their games, it also created a possibility that they’d get alienated completely. Additionally, with the Xbox-Steam integration teased for the console, a possibility of people trying out Sony exclusives through the Steam app on the console would also become a reality. All this could’ve prompted Sony to end the console war, at least for now. 

The galaxy is vast, and the enemies of Freedom are without number.
Good. Because so are we.

Every Helldiver who enlists adds more firepower, more chaos, and more glorious last stands for Democracy. Together, we will burn the bugs, crush the bots, and shatter the squids until no… pic.twitter.com/y5JbpswEnM

— HELLDIVERS:tm: 2 (@helldivers2) August 26, 2025

With Helldivers 2 Putting the Console War on Ice, What’s Next?

It’s slightly heart-warming to see Helldivers 2 put a stop to the fabled console war. The game has seen instances of co-operation unlike any other video game, and to have it end something that has defined the gaming landscape hits differently. For example, no one can forget the defense of Mort, where PS5 players held the line, while PC players were down due to a massive Steam maintenance. 

Even Arrowhead acknowledges that with the Defense of Mort, they realised that they had something special going on with Helldivers 2. So, for Sony to use this game as a means to end the console war brings a different meaning altogether. That said, it’s just one game, and the company has to do a lot more to signify that they’ve truly buried the hatchet with the console war. 

With the gaming landscape evolving each passing day, AAA titles are more expensive than before, and so are consoles. With both Sony and Microsoft focusing on the software that they publish, it does reduce the burden on gamers, because that way everyone can enjoy their favorite games on their choice of platform. Helldivers 2 on Xbox is a major step in the right direction, only if Sony decides to keep walking down that path in the months that are to come.