Helldivers 2 PC vs PS5: Which is Better?

Helldivers 2 is a rare PlayStation title to launch Day 1 on PC. It encourages crossplay for the best online multiplayer co-op experience, blasting space bugs in the name of Super Earth democracy. But should you get Helldivers 2 on PC or PS5? Let’s see which is better.

Should I Get Helldivers 2 on PC or PS5?

As with any Day 1 game release available across multiple platforms, I wondered if Helldivers 2 is better on PC or PS5. This is a third-person shooter experience, so there are bound to be some gameplay differences. Not to mention differences between graphics and performance. I was lucky enough to play it on both platforms and here’s what I’ve noticed.

Helldivers 2 Performance on PC vs. PS5

Helldivers 2 PC Performance

When it comes to performance, Helldivers 2 can be volatile on the PC, even though the ceiling for stellar performance is there. Mainly, Helldivers 2 is a decent PC port, and if you meet the recommended specs, you’ll get a steady 60 FPS to 120 FPS experience — or even higher, depending on your rig. That said, if you’re on the lower end with a less powerful rig, your FPS might be volatile and swing below 60, especially in crowded areas. Overall, the PC port offers a more responsive experience if you meet the recommended requirements. However, the PC version also currently has a lot of crashing issues.

Helldivers 2 PS5 Performance

Helldivers 2 has two performance modes on PS5. You can run the game in Quality mode for a maximum of 30FPS. While the game will look better, especially for details that are farther out, I found this mode can be clunky, unresponsive, and generally unsatisfying to play, especially in larger fights. I highly recommend running Helldivers 2 on PS5 in Performance mode for a stable 60 FPS across the board.

Helldivers 2 Graphics on PC and PlayStation 5

Helldivers 2 PC Graphics

If you meet both minimum and recommended system requirements for Helldivers 2, you’ll get a decent-looking third-person shooter. The game has 4K support and can deliver excellent image quality. The visual effects look stunning, especially once you start encountering hordes of different enemies and start dropping nukes and other flashy stratagems.

Helldivers 2 PS5 Graphics

The PS5 experience is quite similar but will largely depend on your TV’s resolution. Helldivers 2 on PS5 supports 4K and runs at a 1800p to 2160p dynamic resolution. However, you’ll have to enable Quality Mode, which limits your FPS to 30. With Performance Mode, the maximum you can reach is 1080p. To make the game look better on PS5, I would highly recommend removing depth-of-field, adjusting sharpness to 95, and enabling anti-aliasing. Doing so makes the game look drastically better.

Helldivers 2 Gameplay on PC vs. PS5

Helldivers 2 PC Gameplay

Being a third-person shooter, Helldivers 2 is much more enjoyable on the PC in terms of aiming and shooting. There’s a higher skill ceiling when aiming with a mouse for more precise critical hits by aiming at weak spots. I also discovered that I input stratagem combinations faster on PC.

Helldivers 2 PlayStation 5 Gameplay

Getting used to aiming on a PS5 controller in Helldivers 2 can be rough at first but like any other shooter, Helldivers 2 on PS5 has an aim-assist mode that slows down your camera when aiming near an enemy and softly locks onto them. That said, outside of combat, you’ll have to get used to the analog for controlling your camera. Unlike in Helldivers’ spiritual predecessor Magicka, inputting combinations for stratagems is drastically easier even on the controller. All in all, you’ll definitely notice the difference in terms of aiming and maneuvering between a PS5 and PC player in crossplay.

In summary, Helldivers 2 looks better and controls better on the PC but the PS5 version isn’t far behind and doesn’t crash as much as the PC version. That said, this is only when using Performance Mode on the PS5, as Quality Mode can be unresponsive and laggy since it’s locked to 30FPS. For more HD2 guides, check out how to claim the pre-order armor sets and the Twitch armor drop.