Just the other day, Sony shocked the Xbox player base by finally caving and releasing Helldivers 2 on Xbox Series X|S this August.
While that in itself is a victory already, could Xbox gamers secure another one by having the live-service survival shooter appear on Xbox’s Game Pass subscription service?

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If you’re one of the millions subscribed to it, and plan to wait until Helldivers 2 appear on the platform instead of buying it to experience the game, you’re in for a very long wait.
Helldivers 2 On Game Pass Is A Stratagem That Won’t Be Deployed Anytime Soon
While Microsoft has been very generous when it comes to Game Pass games wherein we see big third-party releases available on day one, that won’t be the case for Helldivers 2.
Arrowhead Game Studios Community Manager Baskinator confirmed this on the game’s official Discord server (via TheGamer). When a fan mentioned how they were “pretty sure” the title was confirmed for Game Pass, the studio employee clarified it by replying, “Definitely not,” and added that there are “No plans to bring it to Game Pass.”
This isn’t surprising, given the fact that the title is releasing on Xbox is surprising enough as it is. Sony accepting a flat rate for the game to appear on Game Pass seems like a far-fetched idea given the game is super popular already, and Sony doesn’t really need the player count boos that Game Pass offers.
Fortunately for Xbox gamers, Helldivers 2 isn’t a full-fledged AAA-priced game. It’ll only cost $39.99 for the base game version, which is a major step down in price compared to AAA releases these days that are priced at $70 and even $80 in some cases.

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The Helldivers 2 release on Xbox will offer full cross-play functionality, allowing those interested to party up with their friends, even if they’re playing on PS5 or PC.
The shooter’s release on Xbox Series X|S is the sole bright spot for Xbox fans this week, following the report of a massive layoff wave at Microsoft, which is expected to affect 9,000 jobs and result in multiple game cancellations.
Helldivers 2 will be available on Xbox Series X|S on August 26, and barring any major technical hurdles, it should offer the same level of fun as its PS5 and PC counterpart. If you need convincing of the addictive gameplay loop Arrowhead Game Studios concocted with the sequel, read our review, which talks about the value for money this $40 game offers players.

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