Helldivers 2 took the world by storm when it first dropped onto PC and PS5 in February 2024. Within just a few weeks, Helldivers 2 managed to bring in over 450,000 players on Steam, and it managed to maintain much of its impressive player-count for a few months, with the game's steady stream of free content and player-friendly battle passes keeping fans hooked.
But just five months after launch, Helldivers 2 lost 90% of its PC player-base, dropping from an all-time peak count of 458,709 to around 40,000 per day by the end of June 2024. Flash forward a little over a year and Helldivers 2 currently has a 24-hour peak player-count of 31,845, a far cry from its launch month figures but still a sizable following. And that loyal group might be receiving a new influx of members soon. Helldivers 2 is finally heading to Xbox Series X/S on August 26, and it might be bringing something Halo fans won't want to miss.
Helldivers 2 Might Finally Give Halo Fans Their ODST Follow-Up
Halo 3: ODST Left a Lasting Impression
Released in 2009, Halo 3: ODST saw developer Bungie transfer its beloved Sci-Fi shooter formula to a new group of protagonists. Rather than put players in the heavy Spartan boots of the Master Chief once again, Halo 3: ODST had fans suiting up as various members of Alpha-Nine, an elite squad of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers led by Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck (voiced by Firefly and The Rookie star Nathan Fillion).
Aside from criticisms levied towards the game's shorter runtime, Halo 3: ODST received very positive reviews upon its original 2009 release. Both fans and critics alike heavily praised ODST's tonal shift, its core cast of characters, and its distinct setting and atmosphere. Over the last 16 years, Halo 3: ODST has only grown in popularity, with it standing out alongside Halo Reach for its refreshing change of pace and protagonists.
Though ODSTs have popped up in games like Halo Wars, and Nathan Fillion's Edward Buck returned in Halo 5: Guardians, fans still long to see the ODSTs get another chance to stand in the series' spotlight, either in their own dedicated spinoff or as a prominent part of a new mainline Halo entry.
Though Buck is the only member of Alpha-Nine to reappear in Halo's mainline entries, the squad's story does continue in the Halo: New Blood and Bad Blood novels, both written by Matt Forbeck.
Helldivers 2 Might Be Giving Halo's ODSTs Another Chance in the Spotlight
Though it isn't the fully-blown return Halo fans were hoping for, the series' ODSTs might finally be getting another chance to shine. Helldivers 2's recent "Bring the Boom" trailer ended with a shot of an abandoned city street, with rain pouring from above and covering the camera lens, and a lonely saxophone playing a tune that will be all too familiar to anyone who's ever walked Halo 3: ODST's New Mobasa isolating streets at night.
At the time of writing, developer Arrowhead hasn't officially confirmed a Helldivers 2 x Halo crossover, but it seems incredibly likely given the obvious nature of the tease and the trailer's direct connection to Helldivers 2's imminent launch on Xbox.
If Helldivers 2's Halo crossover is anything like its December 2024 Killzone collaboration, then fans can expect to see a handful of cosmetics inspired by the fellow Sci-Fi gaming franchise come to the live-service shooter. And given the very specific nature of Helldivers 2's Halo tease, it seems very likely that these cosmetics will be based on the franchise's ODSTs.
The first wave of Helldivers 2's Killzone crossover was heavily criticized due to its high price tag. So much so that the second wave was given to fans for free. Helldivers 2's Halo crossover is likely to land somewhere in the middle price-wise.
Much like the Helldivers 2 x Killzone crossover, this upcoming Halo collab could even add a few new weapons to the game. Halo 3: ODST's silenced SMG and silenced pistol would be safe choices for Helldivers 2's arsenal, but Arrowhead could always throw in some surprise additions like the Spartan Laser, Energy Sword, or Fuel Rod Cannon. Regardless of what content Helldivers 2 chooses to carry over, it'll be a genuine pleasure to see Halo 3: ODST receive more love.
Helldivers 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- February 8, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- bitsquid
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
