Helldivers 2 on PS Plus or Game Pass? Availability Explained

Since launch, Helldivers 2 has been the co-op sensation friends keep recommending, and one question keeps popping up before squads gear up: is it included with PS Plus or Xbox Game Pass? Here’s the clear, no-nonsense answer. Helldivers 2 is not part of the PS Plus game catalog, and it’s not on Game Pass. On PlayStation 5, you do need an active PS Plus subscription for online play, because the entire experience is built around multiplayer missions and a shared galactic war. But entry to the game itself is a separate purchase. On PC, the game is sold on Steam and does not require a console subscription. If you are deciding where to play, the headline facts are simple: buy it outright on PS5 or Steam; use PS Plus on PS5 strictly to access multiplayer; and expect cross-play between PS5 and PC so your squad can unite across platforms without friction.

Main Part

Let’s unpack PS Plus, because the tiers can be confusing. PS Plus Essential grants online play; Extra and Premium add rotating catalogs and classic titles. Helldivers 2 is not currently in the Extra or Premium catalogs, so you won’t find it as a downloadable included title through those plans. Historically, Sony has added first-party or partner games to the catalog months after release on a case-by-case basis, but not as a guaranteed timeline. Translation: there’s a chance it could join Extra or Premium later, yet you shouldn’t bank on a specific window. If you’re on PS5 and want to jump in now, plan for two costs: the game purchase and an Essential subscription for multiplayer. Watch for periodic store sales, voucher deals, or regional promotions to soften the upfront price. Good news for mixed-platform friend groups: cross-play is officially supported, and matchmaking between PS5 and PC is active, so your lobby won’t feel split by platform walls.

What about Xbox Game Pass? Short version: Helldivers 2 isn’t available on Xbox at all, so there’s nothing to surface on Game Pass. The title is developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published under the PlayStation Studios banner, releasing on PS5 and PC. That publishing setup makes an Xbox release highly unlikely in the foreseeable future, and with no Xbox version, there’s no path to Game Pass. On PC, the game is sold on Steam, and cross-play with PS5 is supported, but there’s no Game Pass for PC listing either. If you prefer subscription access on PC, that option just isn’t on the table today. As for cloud routes, there’s no official PlayStation PC cloud entitlement for Helldivers 2, and third-party cloud libraries haven’t added it. If you want to play on the go, Remote Play from a PS5 to supported devices is the most reliable workaround for now.

If you’re still weighing a purchase, it helps to know what you’re getting. Helldivers 2 is a third-person cooperative shooter built around coordinated objectives, hazardous planetary operations, and a community-driven war map where everyone’s victories contribute to ongoing campaigns. The game launched at a relatively approachable price versus many new releases, and it funds live support with optional cosmetics and Warbonds that rotate fresh gear. The design focus is on style variety rather than raw stat advantages, so it avoids a pay-to-win feel while offering a reason to keep playing between major content drops. Server strain at release gave the team a trial by fire, but capacity and stability improved substantially as patches rolled out. Account linking became a flashpoint on PC; after feedback, the team and publisher adjusted course to keep access smooth. Cross-play is in, comms are active, and content cadence has stayed steady enough to keep the queue lively.

Conclusion

So where does that leave you? If you’re on PS5, Helldivers 2 is a separate purchase, and PS Plus Essential is required to squad up online. If you’re on PC, pick it up on Steam and hop straight into cross-play lobbies with console friends. It isn’t on the PS Plus catalog today and isn’t available through Xbox Game Pass, and the absence of an Xbox version means that’s unlikely to change soon. Could it land in PS Plus Extra or Premium months down the line? Possibly, following patterns we’ve seen with other titles, but there’s no public timetable. The pragmatic advice is simple: if you want in now, buy it where your friends play; if you’re price-sensitive, set a deal alert and watch seasonal sales. Either way, the cooperative loop, the shared war effort, and the steady stream of updates make it an easy recommendation for squads who love tight teamwork under pressure.