No. 11Co-operative shooter
Helldivers 2: the co-op shooter checked against your kit
Four-player chaos on PS5, Xbox Series and PC, with one UK complication: since mid-September 2026 new copies cannot be bought on Steam here.
01 · the kit listWhere Helldivers 2 plays
A PC and current-console game only. On PS5 it is now in the PS Plus Extra catalogue; on PC, UK players who do not already own it currently cannot buy it on Steam.
- Desktop PCWith caveats · Not on sale on Steam UK
Steam only. Existing owners play as normal, but new copies have not been on sale on Steam in the UK since about 16 September 2026; Sony says it is working with Valve.
- Everyday laptopNot available
The minimum is a GTX 1050 Ti-class card, beyond integrated graphics.
- Steam DeckWith caveats · Playable
Valve rates it Playable: some text is small, but its anti-cheat does work on the Deck.
- PlayStation 5Plays
Native PS5 version, enhanced for PS5 Pro, and in the PS Plus Extra catalogue since 12 August 2026.
- Xbox Series X|SPlays
On Xbox Series X|S since 26 August 2025.
- Nintendo Switch 2Not available
No Nintendo version has been announced.
- Phone & tabletNot available
No phone or tablet version.
- MacNot available
No Mac version.
- Cloud streamingWith caveats · Xbox or PS Plus Premium
Stream a copy you own through Xbox cloud streaming (Game Pass Essential or higher) or PS Plus Premium. It is not on GeForce NOW.
02 · on a PCWhat your PC needs
- System
- 64-bit Windows 10
- Processor
- Core i7-4790K or Ryzen 5 1500X
- Memory
- 8 GB
- Graphics
- GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or Radeon RX 470
- Storage
- About 23 GB since the 2025 slimming patch
- System
- 64-bit Windows 10
- Processor
- Core i7-9700K or Ryzen 7 3700X
- Memory
- 16 GB
- Graphics
- GeForce RTX 2060 or Radeon RX 6600 XT
- Storage
- SSD recommended
Published by Arrowhead and Sony on Steam. Always online, with kernel-level anti-cheat. Steam's storage lines predate the smaller install. Official requirements.
03 · the verdictManaged democracy, managed chaos
Helldivers 2 is a four-player co-operative shooter played from over the shoulder. You are an expendable soldier of a comically authoritarian Super Earth, dropped onto alien planets to complete objectives against bugs, robots and worse, calling in air strikes, supplies and reinforcements with button codes typed under fire.
Friendly fire is always on, and that is the joke and the genius of it: most deaths are your own team's fault, and most of the laughs come from them. Underneath the comedy is a sharp tactical game about loadouts, routes and when to cut your losses.
The developer runs a shared galactic war in which every player's missions push the front lines, with new enemies and events arriving on a steady schedule. Warbonds, its version of a battle pass, never expire and can be unlocked with currency found while playing.
On kit it is a PC and console game only: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and PC, with no Mac, phone or Nintendo version, and its minimum graphics card puts everyday laptops out of reach. UK PC players should note that new copies have not been on sale on Steam here since mid-September 2026, while PS5 owners with PS Plus Extra already have it in the catalogue.
Start it if…
you have a regular group of friends and like your action loud, co-operative and a little absurd.
Skip it if…
you mostly play alone; it works solo, but it is at its best with three others.
04 · the score8.0 out of 10, and why
05 · the billWhat it costs in the UK
| Store | What you get | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation Store | Standard Edition (PS5) | £34.99 | Also in PS Plus Extra |
| Xbox Store | Standard Edition (Series X|S) | £34.99 | |
| Steam | Standard Edition (PC) | £34.99 | Not currently on sale in the UK |
| PlayStation Store | 1,000 Super Credits | £7.99 | One premium warbond |
Online play on consoles
- PlayStation
- PS Plus needed for online play (it is online-only)
- Xbox
- Game Pass Essential or higher needed
- Nintendo
- Not on Nintendo hardware
What the shop sells
Super Credits buy premium warbonds (1,000 each) and armour in the Superstore, and they also turn up in missions. Warbonds never leave the store, and everything is shown before you buy: there are no packs or random items.
PEGI purchase descriptor: In-game purchases.
Which edition? The Standard Edition is all you need. The Super Citizen Edition (£49.99 on PS5) adds cosmetics and a warbond you could also buy later. On PS5, check the PS Plus Extra catalogue first: it has included the game since August 2026.
06 · starting in 2026Still growing, with a UK Steam caveat
Arrowhead keeps the galactic war moving with regular updates: a major update in August 2026 raised the level cap to 300, and the PC version became dramatically smaller after a 2025 clean-up. The catch for UK PC players is the Steam sales pause since mid-September 2026.
Helldivers 2 arrived on Xbox Series X|S with crossplay across all three platforms. Source.
A new PC build cut the install from about 154 GB to about 23 GB. Source.
The Devoid of Liberty update raised the level cap to 300, and the game joined the PS Plus Extra catalogue. Source.
New copies disappeared from sale on Steam in the UK; Sony said it was working with Valve, and existing owners are unaffected. Source.
A new support vehicle becomes permanently unlockable in October 2026; a larger 'Planet Warfronts' feature is announced without a date.
07 · strengths and catchesWorth knowing
Strengths
- Brilliant co-op comedy and tension
- Warbonds never expire and can be earned by playing
- One modest price, with crossplay across PC, PlayStation and Xbox
- A living war that changes week to week
Catches
- Much less fun alone
- Demands a proper graphics card on PC
- No Mac, phone or Nintendo route
08 · first stepsBefore your first session
- Finish the training mission: it teaches stratagem codes, which you will type in a panic later.
- Stay close to your squad and never throw an air strike at your own position.
- Spend early medals on the first page of the free warbond before looking at premium ones.
- Lower difficulties are genuinely fun; move up only when missions start to feel easy.
09 · screenshotsHow it looks
Screenshots: official, © Sony Interactive Entertainment and Arrowhead Game Studios.
10 · questionsCommon questions
Can I buy Helldivers 2 on Steam in the UK?
Not at the moment. New copies disappeared from Steam in the UK around 16 September 2026; Sony says it is working with Valve, and people who already own it can keep playing.
Does Helldivers 2 have crossplay?
Yes, across PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and you can switch it off. Progress does not transfer between platforms.
Do I need PS Plus to play Helldivers 2?
PS Plus is needed for online play on PS5, and the game is always online. It is also in the PS Plus Extra catalogue.
How big is Helldivers 2 on PC?
About 23 GB since a 2025 patch, far less than the figures still shown on Steam.