Helldivers 2 has quickly become a top pick in Game Pass co-op recommendations from major outlets. However, there’s a catch: the game’s Steam community feedback has dipped into mostly negative territory, despite boasting 44,452 concurrent players and an 82% positive rating across 795,350 reviews.
Launched on February 8, 2024, Helldivers 2 shattered records for Sony Interactive Entertainment, making it one of the fastest-selling PlayStation titles on PC. This third-person squad shooter allows up to four players to tackle missions focused on bug hunting and battling automatons across randomly generated planets. Critics praised its engaging gameplay during the launch period. At $29.99 on Steam, it’s well-priced compared to similar co-op shooters.
The current discussion around Game Pass co-op games features Helldivers 2 alongside titles like Sea of Thieves and It Takes Two. Each game offers a unique co-op experience. Sea of Thieves emphasizes open-world piracy and social interactions, while It Takes Two is a two-player narrative platformer that snagged the 2021 Game of the Year award at The Game Awards. Helldivers 2 finds its place in between as a replayable, session-based shooter that demands high skill from players.
What’s intriguing about the current coverage is the disconnect between overall review scores and recent player feedback. While the Steam rating sits at 82% positive, recent reviews have taken a sharp turn negative. Players voice concerns about unclear weapon balance changes, poor developer communication, and toxicity within the game’s community channels. Arrowhead has acknowledged these balance issues in previous patch notes, but players argue that some changes didn’t make it into official changelogs.
Looking at co-op mechanics, Helldivers 2 stands out as one of the better options on Game Pass for groups of three or four. The Stratagems system allows players to call in airstrikes, supply drops, and defensive setups using directional inputs. This feature fosters real teamwork among squad members. GameSpot’s co-op rankings for PlayStation 5 consistently place it among the top choices for online play, highlighting mission diversity and difficulty levels that reward teamwork.
| Release Date | February 8, 2024 |
| Steam Reviews | 82% positive (795,350 total) |
| Current Steam Players | 44,452 |
| Current Steam Price | $29.99 |
| Max Co-Op Players | 4 |
Community Pulse
Recent Steam reviewers are clearly distinguishing between the game and its surrounding community. One reviewer stated: “Great game BUT terrible community (Glaze Divers) and developers both doxxing and harassing anyone, shadow nerf any weapon and hiding on their Discord and Reddit servers.” This sentiment pops up repeatedly, suggesting a widespread frustration rather than isolated issues — a trend that often leads to developer action or community changes in other live-service titles.
What To Watch
- Arrowhead’s patch transparency: How the studio responds to player claims of undisclosed weapon nerfs will be key in determining whether the recent negative review trend stabilizes or worsens.
- Game Pass retention data: While Microsoft doesn’t share detailed Game Pass engagement stats, Helldivers 2’s Steam player count — still over 44,000 — will indicate overall player health across platforms.
- Co-op competition in 2025: As the Game Pass co-op catalog grows, if Arrowhead can’t improve community sentiment, players have solid alternatives available within their subscription.
