Helldivers 2 is a paid co-op third-person shooter from Arrowhead Game Studios, published by Sony, on PS5, PC and Xbox Series X|S. Up to four players drop onto enemy planets, complete the main objective and reach extraction. You win a mission by finishing the objective, and the community wins the Galactic War together.
What is Helldivers 2?
Helldivers 2 is a squad-based third-person shooter made by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It launched on February 8, 2024 for PS5 and PC, and reached Xbox Series X|S on August 26, 2025. It is a paid game (the Standard Edition is $39.99 on the PlayStation Store) and it joined the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog on August 12, 2026.
You play an elite Helldiver fighting for Super Earth, a deliberately over-the-top parody of a militaristic democracy. Three enemy factions stand in your way: the bug-like Terminids, the robotic Automatons and the mind-controlling Illuminate. Friendly fire is always on, and your most powerful tools are stratagems, airdrops and orbital strikes you call in with button codes. New to co-op shooters? See every game explained for a quick comparison of genres.
| Fact | Helldivers 2 (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Developer | Arrowhead Game Studios |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Release date | February 8, 2024 (Xbox: August 26, 2025) |
| Platforms | PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S, with crossplay |
| Price model | Paid, Standard Edition $39.99; Super Citizen Edition $59.99 |
| Players | 1 to 4 per mission, online co-op |
| Latest major update | Devoid of Liberty (7.0), August 12, 2026 |
The August 2026 Devoid of Liberty update moved the Illuminate war into the Void, added new enemies and raised the level cap from 150 to 300. Arrowhead's roadmap lists a new Warbond, biome, enemy and the Liberty Day event for October 2026, and Major Update 8.0 for December.
What is the objective of Helldivers 2?
The big-picture goal is the Galactic War. Every mission any player finishes adds to the fight for a planet, and the game master, High Command, sets Major Orders, such as liberating certain worlds or hitting kill targets, that the whole community works on together. Planets are won or lost based on that shared effort.
Your personal goal inside one mission is to land, complete the main objective, pick up optional objectives and samples if you can, then call the extraction shuttle and get on it. Missions are grouped into operations. Finish every mission in an operation for bonus rewards; fail one and the rest of that operation fails too.
How do you win a match in Helldivers 2?
There is no PvP in Helldivers 2. Winning means completing missions against the AI, and the details change with the type of planet campaign and difficulty:
| Mode | Team size | How you win |
|---|---|---|
| Standard mission | 1 to 4 | Complete the main objective; then extract to keep samples |
| Operation | 1 to 4 | Win every mission in the set for bonus rewards |
| Liberation or defence campaign | Whole community | Enough completed missions push the planet to liberated or defended |
| Major Order | Whole community | Meet High Command's goal before the timer runs out to earn its reward |
Completing the main objective pays out Requisition Slips and XP even if nobody extracts. Samples are different: they only count if someone is carrying them when the squad boards the shuttle. Optional tactical objectives add extra rewards and can remove hazards on the map.
How does ranked or progression work?
Helldivers 2 has no ranked ladder. Progress comes from four things: your level (now capped at 300), medals that unlock items in Warbonds, Requisition Slips for new stratagems, and samples that pay for permanent ship module upgrades. Difficulty runs from 1 (Trivial) to 10 (Super Helldive); rare samples start appearing at level 4 (Challenging) and super samples at level 6 (Extreme). For more Helldivers 2 articles as we publish them, browse our Helldivers 2 guides hub.
Beginner tips to win more
- Start on low difficulties to learn stratagem codes and enemy weak points before moving up.
- Watch your aim around teammates. Friendly fire is always on, and so are your own airstrikes.
- Pick one anti-armour option for the squad, such as a rocket or recoilless weapon, so heavy enemies are not a wall.
- Grab samples on the way, but remember they only count if they are on board when the shuttle leaves.
- Avoid fighting every patrol. Breaking line of sight often beats staying to shoot.
- Spend early medals on Warbond items that improve your armour and primary weapon.
- Check the current Major Order and play on its planets to help the war and earn its reward.
How can Boosting Games help with Helldivers 2?
We offer fixed-price Helldivers 2 help, all listed on the Helldivers 2 services collection. These are starting prices as of October 2026; the exact price for your option shows before checkout.
| Service | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Helldivers 2 Leveling Boost | Your Helldiver levelled up | From $25 |
| Helldivers 2 Medal Runs for Warbonds | Missions run to earn medals for Warbond unlocks | From $12 |
| Helldivers 2 Sample Farming Runs | Runs focused on collecting samples | From $19 |
| Helldivers 2 Ship Module Unlocks | Help gathering what you need for ship module upgrades | From $12 |
| Helldivers 2 Super Helldive Carry | A carry through Super Helldive difficulty missions | From $15 |
| Helldivers 2 Coaching | Live coaching on loadouts and squad play | From $10 |
Honest risk note: Sony's and Arrowhead's terms do not allow you to share your account, and paid boosting can also break platform rules. Piloted orders, where a booster logs in for you, carry the most risk. Carries where you join the squad yourself carry less, and coaching carries none. Read our account safety notice before ordering. We never sell accounts, Super Credits, items, cheats or mods.
Get help with Helldivers 2
Choose a service on the Helldivers 2 boosting page, see the exact price before you pay, and follow each session on your private order page. Our how it works page walks through every step.
See Helldivers 2 servicesAsk Boost Up AIRelated reading: our beginner guides What Is Destiny 2 and how do you win and What Is Warframe and how do you win, plus the Helldivers 2 guides hub. Not sure what you need? Ask Boost Up AI.
Helldivers 2 FAQ
Is Helldivers 2 free to play?
No. Helldivers 2 is a paid game. The Standard Edition is $39.99 and the Super Citizen Edition is $59.99 on the PlayStation Store. Since August 12, 2026 it is also part of the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, so PS Plus Extra members can play it without buying it separately. New Premium Warbonds, such as Ironclad Democracy in September 2026, are optional extras on top of the base game.
How many players can play Helldivers 2 together?
Up to four players can join one mission in online co-op. You can also drop alone, but the game is tuned for squads, and many objectives are easier with more people calling stratagems and covering each other. Crossplay lets PS5, PC and Xbox Series X|S players squad up, so it is easy to find other Helldivers to drop with even if your friends play on another system.
How long is a Helldivers 2 mission?
Each mission runs on a timer, and how long it takes depends on the mission type, the difficulty and how much optional content your squad chases. An operation chains several missions together, so a full operation takes longer than a single drop. If the squad is struggling, it is often smarter to finish the main objective and call extraction early rather than push for every side goal.
What difficulty should beginners play in Helldivers 2?
Start on the lowest levels, Trivial to Medium, while you learn stratagem codes, enemy types and how extraction works. There are ten difficulties, from Trivial up to Super Helldive. Rare samples begin to appear at Challenging (level 4) and super samples at Extreme (level 6), so most players move up steadily once they have better gear and ship modules.
Is there PvP or ranked in Helldivers 2?
No. Helldivers 2 is purely player versus environment. There is no ranked ladder or competitive mode. Your progress is measured by your level, which now goes up to 300, the Warbond items you unlock with medals, your stratagems and your ship modules. The community as a whole also tracks progress in the Galactic War, liberating or losing planets together.
What happens if my squad fails to extract?
If the main objective was finished, you still get its XP and Requisition Slips even when nobody reaches the shuttle. What you lose are the samples you were carrying, because samples only count if someone has them on board when the shuttle leaves. If the mission was part of an operation and it failed, the remaining missions of that operation fail too.
New directions: Helldivers 2 Difficulty Levels and Progression Guide (2026) and all raid and dungeon guides.
Sources: PlayStation: Helldivers 2 product page, PlayStation: latest news and Warbonds, G2A News: 2026 roadmap, Helldivers Wiki: difficulties, Helldivers Wiki: operations, Helldivers Wiki: samples.