Helldivers 2, Arrowhead Game Studios’ cooperative sci-fi shooter, is on the verge of making gaming history as it prepares to land on Xbox Series X and S on August 26, 2025. This marks the first time a PlayStation-published title will launch on Microsoft’s console, but that’s not the only headline-grabbing development: a tantalizing new trailer has set the internet abuzz with the prospect of a crossover featuring Halo 3: ODST, one of Xbox’s most beloved franchises.
The new trailer, released to celebrate Helldivers 2’s upcoming Xbox debut, is a masterclass in nostalgia and hype. Most of its runtime showcases the game’s signature blend of explosive co-op action and tongue-in-cheek recruitment calls—“Now recruiting: fearless soldiers to save the galaxy from freedom-hating fiends”—as players gear up to defend Super Earth from alien threats. But it’s the trailer’s final moments that have set forums and social media alight. As rain pours over a futuristic cityscape, the unmistakable notes of 'Rain,' a somber track from the Halo 3: ODST soundtrack, begin to play. At the same time, viewers catch a glimpse of a drop pod—an M8900 Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle, to be precise—slamming into the ground, a signature move of Halo’s Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODSTs).
According to reporting by IGN, the trailer’s closing scene is more than just a wink to fans. It’s a clear signal that Helldivers 2 is about to embark on a crossover with Halo 3: ODST, a cult-classic entry in the Halo series originally released by Bungie for Xbox 360 in 2009. While neither Arrowhead nor Microsoft has officially confirmed the full extent of the collaboration, the implication is hard to miss. The two franchises share more than a few thematic similarities: both drop players into the boots of regular human soldiers (no superpowered Master Chiefs here), both revel in over-the-top weaponry and orbital insertions, and both pit their heroes against overwhelming alien odds.
Arrowhead has been careful about crossovers in the past. As noted by GameSpot, the studio has said, “Crossovers have to make sense. We don't want to be Kingdom Hearts or Fortnite. If we do them, we want them to add something—feelgood, fun, a memory, but we like for it to make sense and fit in.” The studio has previously dipped its toes into crossover territory, most notably with a Killzone event last December that brought Helghast armor and cosmetics to Helldivers 2. But Arrowhead has generally shied away from exploiting outside properties, wary of diluting the game’s identity.
That said, the Halo 3: ODST tease seems like a natural fit. The aesthetics of Helldivers—chunky armor, advanced weaponry, and a grim sense of humor—are a match made in heaven (or perhaps orbit) with the ODSTs’ gritty, boots-on-the-ground approach. As GamesRadar+ observed, “The general look of that game would fit in well with the Helldivers 2 universe, as the armor and weapons from the game wouldn't feel out of place in Helldivers 2.”
So what can fans expect from the crossover? While details remain under wraps, speculation is running wild. Based on Arrowhead’s prior collaborations, it’s likely that the event will include new armor sets, weapons, and cosmetic items—perhaps flags and capes inspired by ODST iconography. There’s also hope for more ambitious content, such as ODST-themed maps or even new gameplay mechanics. One thing seems almost certain: Master Chief himself won’t be making an appearance. As Arrowhead’s chief creative officer Johan Pilestedt explained last year, “I’d generally draw the line between bringing game properties into Helldivers 2 somewhere between Halo in general and making Master Chief playable in the game.” The logic is simple—Helldivers is about squads of disposable heroes, while Halo’s Master Chief is a unique legend. ODST troopers, on the other hand, fit right in.
The anticipation for the crossover has only been heightened by the timing of Helldivers 2’s Xbox release. As Pure Xbox and TheGamer both point out, the game’s arrival on Microsoft’s console comes on the very same day that Gears of War: Reloaded—a remaster of the first Gears of War—launches on PlayStation 5. It’s a symbolic moment for the industry, reflecting the increasingly blurred lines between once-warring gaming ecosystems. Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani even joined the fun, joking with the game’s Discord community, “What’s the pant situation right now? Please prepare your pants. Muahahaha.”
Helldivers 2’s journey to this moment has been nothing short of remarkable. Originally released on PC and PlayStation 5 in February 2024, the game quickly became a phenomenon, selling a staggering 12 million copies in just 12 weeks—a record for PlayStation Studios. Its blend of fast-paced, cooperative action and irreverent humor struck a chord with players, and its healthy player base on Steam has endured long after launch. The move to Xbox is expected to inject new life into the community, especially with crossplay confirmed across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. As game director Mikael Eriksson told Xbox Wire, “We know gamers have been asking for this for some time and we are so excited to bring more Helldivers into our game. We have so much more in store for the future months and years – and the more players we have the more stories we can tell! The fight for Super Earth has only just begun.”
The timing of the Halo crossover is also notable for fans of the franchise. Halo is currently enjoying a resurgence in pop culture, with its own content appearing in Fortnite during a season that some Arrowhead developers have jokingly described as “basically a Helldivers-themed Fortnite.” Community manager Katherine Baskin quipped on Discord, “Hmmm... it's giving 'we have Helldivers at home.' I'm not worried.” Meanwhile, Microsoft has hinted that more Halo news is on the horizon for October, keeping the speculation fires burning.
For now, the specifics of the Helldivers 2 x Halo 3: ODST crossover remain a closely guarded secret. But the excitement is palpable, and the collaboration feels both inevitable and perfectly timed. As the boundaries between platforms continue to dissolve, and as studios find new ways to celebrate gaming’s shared history, this event stands as a testament to the power of community—and to the enduring appeal of both franchises. Players on all sides are eagerly waiting to see just how deep this crossover will go, and whether it will set a new standard for cross-platform partnerships.
Whatever form the crossover takes, one thing is clear: the fight for Super Earth—and for gaming’s future—just got a lot more interesting.
