History of Helldivers 2 in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 8, 2025

Helldivers 2, released in 2024, is a cooperative third-person shooter developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony for PlayStation 5 and Windows. As a direct sequel to Helldivers (2015), the game is set in the 22nd century and focuses on the Helldivers, an elite force combating threats to humanity.

1997: Starship Troopers Film Release

The 1997 science fiction action film Starship Troopers is a satirical comedy featuring a militaristic regime fighting against a race of large insectoids.

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2015: Helldivers Release

In 2015, the original Helldivers game was released, preceding the sequel, Helldivers 2.

December 2020: Arrowhead Starts New Project

In December 2020, Arrowhead Game Studios revealed that they had started working on a new third-person shooter project for PlayStation 5, which would later be known as Helldivers 2. The game runs on the discontinued Autodesk Stingray game engine.

PlayStation®5 Digital Edition (slim)

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September 2021: Helldivers 2 Mentioned in GeForce Now Leak

In September 2021, Helldivers 2 was mentioned in a GeForce Now leak, generating fan excitement and demand for the game's release.

August 2022: Helldivers 2 Gameplay Leaked

In August 2022, a brief 12-second clip of Helldivers 2 gameplay was leaked on Twitter before being removed, providing an early glimpse of the game.

May 2023: Helldivers 2 Announced at PlayStation Showcase

On May 24, 2023, Helldivers 2 was officially announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, with a release slated for sometime in 2023.

July 2023: Gameplay Trailer Released, Receives M Rating

In July 2023, a gameplay trailer for Helldivers 2 was released, and the game received an M rating by the Entertainment Software Rating Board for "blood and gore" and "intense violence".

September 2023: Gameplay Shown at PlayStation State of Play, Release Date Announced

In September 2023, more Helldivers 2 gameplay was showcased at a PlayStation State of Play event, and the official release date was announced as February 8, 2024. Pre-orders also became available later that month.

February 11, 2024: Helldivers 2 Sales Reach 1 Million Units

On February 11, 2024, Johan Pilestedt, the then-CEO of Arrowhead Games, announced that Helldivers 2 had sold approximately 1 million units.

February 2024: Sales Exceed 3 Million, Surpasses Warzone 2.0 and Fortnite

By February 24, 2024, Helldivers 2 was estimated to have sold over 3 million units and became the most actively played game on the PlayStation Network, surpassing Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 and Fortnite.

February 2024: Best-Selling Game in Europe, UK, and Canada

In February 2024, Helldivers 2 became the best-selling game in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

February 2024: Helldivers 2 Release and Success

In February 2024, Helldivers 2 was released to critical and commercial success, selling over 15 million copies and being considered among the best video games of the year. The game was nominated for and won a number of awards.

March 2024: Sales Reach 8 Million, 450,000 Concurrent Players on Steam

By March 15, 2024, Helldivers 2 was estimated to have sold 8 million units and reached 450,000 concurrent players on Steam.

April 2024: Helldivers 2 Remains Best-Selling Game in Canada

In April 2024, Helldivers 2 continued to be the best-selling game in Canada, maintaining its popularity.

May 3, 2024: PSN Account Requirement Announced

On May 3, 2024, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced that the PC version of Helldivers 2 on Steam would require users to sign in with a PlayStation Network (PSN) account. New players were to be affected from May 6, 2024, and existing players by June 4, 2024.

May 5, 2024: Sony Reverses PSN Account Linking Requirement

On May 5, 2024, Sony announced that they would no longer move forward with the PSN account linking requirements for Helldivers 2, and promised to work with Arrowhead to find alternate solutions to protect players after backlash.

May 6, 2024: PSN Account Requirement Effective for New Players

On May 6, 2024, the PSN account requirement for Helldivers 2 on Steam took effect for new players.

May 2024: Sales Hit 12 Million, Fastest Selling PlayStation Game

By May 5, 2024, Helldivers 2 had sold 12 million units, becoming PlayStation's fastest-selling video game and Sony's most successful Windows title.

June 4, 2024: PSN Account Requirement Deadline for Existing Players

June 4, 2024, was set as the deadline for existing Helldivers 2 players on Steam to link their accounts to the PlayStation Network, as mandated by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

July 2024: PC Player Base Drops Significantly

By July 2024, Helldivers 2 experienced a significant drop in its PC player base, reportedly losing up to 90% of players on Steam due to the PSN account controversy, weapon balancing changes, tougher enemies, bugs, and performance issues.

October 2024: Major Patches Released to Address Issues

In October 2024, Arrowhead released major patches as part of a 60-day plan to address weapon and enemy balancing, performance issues, and bugs in Helldivers 2. The changes were positively received by the player base.

November 2024: Game Sales Cross 15 Million

By November 2024, sales of Helldivers 2 crossed 15 million units.

December 2024: Killzone Crossover Event

On December 18, 2024, Arrowhead released a crossover event with the Killzone franchise for Helldivers 2, offering downloadable content for purchase with in-game currency.

2024: Helldivers 2 Among Best Video Games of 2024

In 2024, Helldivers 2 was recognized as one of the best video games of the year.

2024: Third Highest Selling Game in the US, Top Seller on Steam

In 2024, Helldivers 2 was the third-highest-selling video game in the United States and a top seller and most played game on Steam.

2024: Helldivers 2 release

In 2024, Helldivers 2, a cooperative third-person shooter game developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, was released for the PlayStation 5 and Windows.

PlayStation®5 Digital Edition (slim)

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January 2025: Helldivers 2 Film Announced

In January 2025, Sony Pictures announced during Sony's CES 2025 conference that they are developing a film based on the game Helldivers 2.

March 2025: Warbonds Release

As of March 2025, twelve Warbonds have been released for Helldivers 2: "Helldivers Mobilize", "Steeled Veterans", "Cutting Edge", "Democratic Detonation", "Polar Patriots", "Viper Commandos", "Freedom's Flame", "Chemical Agents", "Truth Enforcers", "Urban Legends", "Servants of Freedom", and "Borderline Justice".

March 2025: United Nations Contact Arrowhead

In March 2025, at the Game Developers Conference, Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt revealed that the United Nations contacted the development team to give a talk on psychological defense against manipulation, highlighting themes present in Helldivers 2.