When Helldivers 2 finally landed on Xbox Series X|S on August 26, it kicked off one of the strongest platform launches in recent memory. The co-op shooter, which had already been available on PlayStation 5 and Windows, saw a dramatic surge in revenue, player numbers, and overall engagement. Simultaneously, Battlefield 6 has been making waves through its Early Access and open beta phases, setting expectations high for its full release this October.
Helldivers 2’s Big Jump
Prior to its Xbox release, Helldivers 2 hovered around position 37 in global August revenue charts. After the Xbox debut, the game shot up to #4, a leap of more than thirty places. This rise was driven by robust sales, renewed interest from players who had yet to try it, and the excitement around cross-platform play. In just six days after its Xbox launch, it reportedly sold around 926,000 copies on Xbox alone—a number that outpaces its first-week sales on PS5, where it moved roughly 633,000 units in a similar period upon its original release.
A major catalyst for the surge was the Halo ODST crossover Warbond content, which brought in iconic weapons and thematic gear tied to the Halo universe. On top of that, a recent update added fresh enemy types and improved mission content, which helped reignite engagement on platforms beyond Xbox. The game’s performance wasn’t limited to sales: in overall engagement terms, Helldivers 2 cracked the top 15 across major markets, and when considering just Xbox users, it ranked even higher.
However, the growth came with growing pains. Server instability was reported during peak hours, with high concurrent user counts overwhelming infrastructure. Players saw momentary disconnects and lag, especially in crossplay sessions. But the community response has been largely positive—many praised the game’s content, improvements, and how well the Xbox version ran given its late arrival on Microsoft’s consoles.
Battlefield 6 Making Waves Early
Meanwhile, Battlefield 6 hasn’t launched in full yet, but it’s already turning heads. The series’ newest entry has seen strong engagement in its Early Access and open beta windows. These test periods attracted hundreds of thousands of players across PC and consoles, putting Battlefield 6 near the top of engagement charts for August—even beating out long-standing titles like Roblox, Minecraft, and others in some regions.
The buzz is being fueled not just by numbers, but by feedback. Developers have been listening: map size tweaks, adjustments to vehicle balance, and content updates have been promised. Players expect more large-scale maps and some fresh modes, possibly even a battle royale-style offering. The full version is set to release on October 10, 2025, with anticipation high that if the beta impressions hold, it will be among the biggest multiplayer shooters of the year.
What This Means for the Industry
These two games illustrate interesting trends in gaming right now. Helldivers 2 demonstrates the power of multi-platform releases, especially when a title migrates or expands beyond its original exclusivity. Players still show strong demand for polished live multiplayer games with ongoing content. And in Battlefield 6’s case, the early access model continues to be a strong tool to build hype, fine-tune experience, and engage community feedback.
Both games benefit from invested communities, crossplay support, and the promise of steady content updates—elements that are becoming increasingly essential in today’s multiplayer game space.
