You’re sitting there at your desk, PC humming, looking at your level 50 Fleet Commander. You’ve unlocked the Scorcher, you’ve got your favorite Ship Modules maxed out, and your armor looks pristine. Then you move to the living room, fire up the PS5, and... nothing. You’re back to level one. A basic Cadet. It’s frustrating. Honestly, it’s one of the few major stains on an otherwise legendary launch. Everyone wants Helldivers 2 cross progression, but as of early 2026, the reality is a lot more complicated than just flipping a switch.
Arrowhead Game Studios knows we want it. Johan Pilestedt, the former CEO who transitioned to Chief Creative Officer to be closer to the "fun" of development, has been vocal about this since the game exploded in popularity. But here’s the kicker: they didn’t expect the game to be this big. When you build a backend for 10,000 concurrent players and 12 million show up, things break. The "galactic war" infrastructure is a complex web of real-time data, and merging two different account ecosystems—Sony’s PlayStation Network and Valve’s Steam—is a technical nightmare that the team is still untangling.
The Technical Debt Holding Back Helldivers 2 Cross Progression
Let's get into the weeds for a second. Most people assume that since the game has cross-play, cross-progression should be a given. That's a mistake. Cross-play just means the two "pipes" can talk to each other during a match. Cross-progression means the "bucket" holding your data—your Medals, Super Credits, Warbond progress, and Samples—has to live in a neutral space that both Sony and Valve can edit simultaneously.
Arrowhead used a proprietary engine (an evolved version of the now-defunct Autodesk Stingray) for Helldivers 2. Because Stingray is essentially "abandonware" in the tech world, the developers are basically writing the book as they go. They aren't just using a "Save to Cloud" button provided by Unreal Engine 5. They are managing a massive database that tracks every single bullet fired across a global campaign.
The biggest hurdle isn't actually the levels. It's the premium currency. Super Credits can be earned in-game or bought with real money. Sony wants their cut of the money spent on PlayStation; Valve wants their cut from Steam. If you buy 1,000 Super Credits on PC, Sony hasn't seen a dime of that transaction. Bringing those credits over to a PS5 account involves legal and financial hurdles that would make a Super Earth Bureaucrat weep.
What happened to the account linking?
Remember the "Great PSN Requirement" debacle of 2024? That was actually the groundwork for Helldivers 2 cross progression. Sony wanted everyone on a single account system to make data migration possible. The community backlash was so severe—rightfully so, given that PSN isn't available in over 170 countries—that the plan was scrapped.
By winning the battle against forced account linking, the community accidentally delayed cross-progression. Without a unified ID, the game doesn't know that "SuperDestroyer69" on Steam is the same person as "DemocraticDiver" on PS5.
The Current State of Your Galactic Progress
Right now, if you play on both platforms, you are living a double life. There is no official way to merge accounts.
Some players have tried reaching out to Arrowhead support to manually move items. Don't bother. The support team is swamped with bug reports and hardware issues; they don't have a tool to "copy-paste" a player's profile from one database to another. You’re stuck with two separate soldiers.
- Warbonds: You have to buy them twice.
- Ship Modules: You have to grind the Samples twice.
- Stratagems: You have to reach the level requirements twice.
It’s a massive time sink. However, there is a silver lining. Because Helldivers 2 is a live-service game that changes every week, playing on a fresh account can actually be... kind of fun? It forces you to use the Precision Orbital Strike and the MG-43 again, reminding you of the struggle before you became a walking tank with an Autocannon. But let’s be real: nobody wants to grind for those Rare Samples again.
Will we ever get a "Merge" feature?
The developers have hinted that if Helldivers 2 cross progression does arrive, it might not be a full "sync." It's more likely to be a one-time account migration. Think back to how Rockstar Games handled Grand Theft Auto V when it moved from PS3 to PS4. You might get one chance to pick your "Main" account and override the other.
The complexity of the Galactic War also plays a role here. Your individual contribution to a planet’s liberation percentage is tied to your account ID. If thousands of players suddenly merge accounts, the backend has to ensure those "Liberation Points" aren't duplicated or lost, which could theoretically break the logic of a live Major Order.
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Why The Community Still Cares (And Why You Should Too)
This isn't just about convenience. It's about the longevity of the game. People move from console to PC all the time. If someone buys a high-end rig and realizes they have to leave their 300-hour Helldivers 2 save behind, they might just stop playing.
In the competitive landscape of 2026, where games like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and various other extraction shooters are vying for your time, friction is the enemy. Arrowhead knows that every barrier to entry—or barrier to staying—is a risk.
Honestly, the most impressive thing about the game is that despite the lack of cross-progression, the player base remains fiercely loyal. We’re willing to put up with a lot for the sake of Managed Democracy. But the "where's my stuff?" questions aren't going away.
Comparing Helldivers 2 to Other Titles
| Game | Cross-Play | Cross-Progression | Account Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helldivers 2 | Yes | No | Internal Database |
| Destiny 2 | Yes | Yes | Bungie.net Account |
| Call of Duty | Yes | Yes | Activision ID |
| Warframe | Yes | Yes | Digital Extremes Account |
Look at Warframe. It took Digital Extremes nearly a decade to implement cross-progression because their backend was so old and convoluted. Arrowhead is in a similar boat, just on a much faster timeline. They are building the plane while flying it through a meteor shower of Terminids.
Actionable Steps for Divers on Multiple Platforms
If you are currently split between PC and PS5, or considering making the jump, here is how you should handle the Helldivers 2 cross progression void right now:
- Commit to a "Main" Platform: Choose the platform where your friends play most often. Since you can't move your progress, don't split your effort 50/50. Get your "Main" to level 20+ so you have access to all Stratagems.
- Save Your Super Credits: If you have Super Credits on one platform, spend them there. Do not expect them to ever transfer to the other. If you're going to buy a new Warbond, buy it on the platform you use 90% of the time.
- Use Cross-Play to Assist Yourself: If you have both, you can technically "invite" your low-level alt account to a high-level mission hosted by your main (if you have two screens/setups). This allows your low-level character to reap the rewards of Helldive-difficulty XP and Medals while your main does the heavy lifting. It's a "self-carry" strategy.
- Stay Tuned to Official Comms: Follow the official Helldivers 2 Discord and Johan Pilestedt’s X (formerly Twitter) account. They are much more transparent than your average AAA studio. When a breakthrough happens, it will be announced there first, likely bundled with a major Galactic War update.
The dream of starting a mission on your PC and finishing the evening on your couch via PS5 isn't dead. It's just in a sort of developmental cryopods. Arrowhead has proven they listen to the fans—from balancing weapons to reversing the PSN mandate. They want this as much as we do, if only to stop us from asking about it every time they post a new patch note.
Until that day comes, keep your eyes on the horizon and your finger on the stratagem key. The bots aren't going to spill their own oil, and those bugs aren't going to turn themselves into E-710. Whether you're level 1 or level 150, the objective remains the same: spread Liberty at any cost.
To stay ahead of the curve, make sure your Steam and PSN accounts use the same email address. While not a guarantee, many developers use email matching as a primary "handshake" when they eventually launch account-linking tools. It’s a small bit of future-proofing that might save you a headache down the road when the bridge finally opens.