Sony's Helldivers 2 leads sales on Xbox's platform for PlayStation titles
In a surprising turn of events, Sony's Helldivers 2, a game originally published for PlayStation, has become the best-selling title on Xbox in 2025. The action-strategy shooter, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios, has crossed 18 million worldwide sales, making it PlayStation's fastest-selling title ever, moving 12 million copies in just 12 weeks.
The success of Helldivers 2 on Xbox marks a significant shift in the gaming industry, as the concept of "Xbox games" and "PlayStation games" becomes less defined. Both Sony and Microsoft are leaning into publishing beyond their own ecosystems, moving away from the traditional model of consoles as exclusive playgrounds.
The strategy is paying off for Sony, as Helldivers 2 is not only dominating the Xbox market but also cracking the top 10 most-played list, landing at ninth place. Interestingly, the top three games on PlayStation used to come from Microsoft, but now Sony's biggest hit is leading the charge on Xbox.
Meanwhile, Microsoft, with its acquisition of Bethesda and Ninja Theory, is also challenging the status quo. The company can now bring games like Indiana Jones and Hellblade 2 to PlayStation without publishing deals, signifying a shift in the industry's power dynamics.
Despite this new approach, Sony's PlayStation Studios chief Hermen Hulst has suggested that some blockbuster single-player games might remain PlayStation-only for a while. Similarly, the publisher of the best-selling Xbox game today, Forza Horizon 5, is still Microsoft, indicating that exclusivity deals are not entirely a thing of the past.
The definition of an "Xbox game" or a "PlayStation game" may now be based on where the game launches first, the publisher behind it, or the logo stamped on the box. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these dynamics further unfold.
In the meantime, Helldivers 2's success on Xbox serves as a testament to the power of great gameplay and the growing interconnectedness of the gaming world. The premium edition of Helldivers 2 is also sitting at number three on Xbox, further solidifying its position as a formidable force in the market.
