Helldivers 2's most-anticipated collab is coming and it's exactly what we wanted

Few multiplayer games have captured our collective imaginations like Helldivers 2 in recent years. From the exciting missions against hordes of angry bugs, to the sensibly-priced battle passes, to the fact we can squad up with our mates to re-enact the scenes of Starship Troopers, it was an instant hit. Developer Arrowhead Game Studios has supported it well, crafting a deft overarching narrative as players defend Super Earth and democracy. Nearly 18 months after the game first released on PC and Playstation, Xbox players will soon finally get in on the action, and they might be bringing the console's mascot with them - Arrowhead has teased a Helldivers 2 and Halo crossover.

Helldivers 2 has always riffed on other pieces of popular culture. The references to Starship Troopers are obvious, and many players have also made comparisons to the Warhammer universe. I'd argue that Helldivers 2 is one of the best Warhammer 40k games, despite not being officially licensed, as it nails the atmosphere of Games Workshop's universe and the futile fight for misplaced valor.

The developers themselves have said that they'd love to do a Warhammer crossover, but the game's next collaboration looks to be coming in the form of another super soldier.

Despite being published by PlayStation, Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox on Tuesday, August 26. And if you listen closely to its new trailer, the final shot suggests that it might be bringing a certain mascot along with it. Anyone who has played Halo 3: ODST will recognise those three iconic notes, and it leaves little doubt that some kind of Halo crossover is on the cards.

The most likely scenario would be a Warbond—Helldivers 2's name for a battle pass. We could see new cosmetics arrive in a premium Warbond that allow you to kit out your SEAF veteran as an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper from the iconic Xbox series. If we're lucky, we might even see some iconic weapons make the jump, but that seems less likely.

It remains to be seen how fans will react to the crossover. The comments on social media so far are positive, but there is staunch opposition to the Fortnitification of Call of Duty with similar crossovers and skins. That said, Helldivers 2 players have already shown they can embrace silliness and meme culture in their fight against the Terminids and Automatons, so a Halo cosmetic shouldn't be too much of a stretch.

At present, we don't know what form the crossover will take, or if it will be available to all players. This could feasibly be limited to Xbox players, offered as an incentive to get them on board with the port, but if it is a Warbond, then it should be available to those on PC and Playstation too.

If you want more games that rely on teamwork, check out our list of the best co-op games on PC. Alternatively, if you want to embrace the sci-fi setting, try one of the best space games for size.

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