With Arrowhead’s uber-popular co-op shooter, though, PS Publishing is overseeing the release, with trusted Dutch port house Nixxes handling the conversion .
Last year’s LEGO Horizon Adventures saw the platform holder dabble with the Nintendo Switch, as it attempted to push Aloy et al on a new audience , so what we’re seeing here is not an enormous surprise. We suspect Helldivers 2 will eventually find its way to Switch 2 as well.
But it is somewhat unexpected because it continues the steady dilution of PS5, which has served as a consistent background criticism from some enthusiasts all generation long.
Sceptics of Sony’s strategy often point to the fact that there are only a handful of true console exclusive games, with practically the entirety of the console’s library also available on PC or other platforms.
Of course, as a live service game with 50% of its revenue coming from microtransactions , you can rest assured the bean counters at PlayStation will have done the maths.
But in the hours after Xbox suffered a devastating round of layoffs , and with its market share seemingly evaporating every day, how big is the addressable audience for Helldivers 2 here – especially with the title launching outside of Game Pass
Sony will have crunched the numbers and concluded there’s more to gain financially than the reputational hit, but what does this mean for future projects?
Does this mean we can expect Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls to launch everywhere eventually?
The delayed Marathon was always a different story because Bungie has always existed outside of PS Studios ever since being absorbed, but presumably we can expect any other successful live service titles to be ported elsewhere as well?
There’s no question that multiplayer games live and breathe based on the size of their player numbers, so exploring beyond the boundaries of its own walled garden makes plenty of sense.
But you could also make the argument that expensive single player games like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet would make more money by being released elsewhere as well, so where exactly does the manufacturer intend to draw the line?
Incumbent PS Studios chief Hermen Hulst recently said that Sony needs to be “really thoughtful about bringing our franchises off-console to reach new audiences”, and implied that its strategy of timed console exclusivity for tentpole single player titles is set in stone.
Nothing about this Helldivers 2 announcement signals a change in that tactic.
But with the PS6 destined to be dominated by cross-gen content, and with the vast majority of its software likely to be ported to PC and who knows elsewhere, Sony is walking a delicate tightrope here.
It regularly reiterates that its overarching goal is to ensure PlayStation is the best place to play. It’s going to be harder and harder to justify that when the software designed to make its ecosystem unique continues to be available elsewhere.
What are your thoughts on Sony’s decision to bring Helldivers 2 to Xbox? Is this an obvious path for the platform holder to take, or are you surprised by the steady dilution of the PS5? Do you think this is an obvious step for PlayStation, or an unforced error in the making? Deploy your opinion in the comments section below.
Are you bothered about Helldivers 2 launching on Xbox? (1,089 votes)
Yes, Sony is steadily diluting the value of its brand 26 %Meh, I don't really care one way or the other 27 %No, more players is a positive thing for everyone 47 %
