Just like in Ready or Not and other squad-based shooters, cooperation is a huge part of success in Helldivers 2. Having friends who are into the game makes teamwork easy, but the game also features public matchmaking that can help pair you up with a new squad. Fighting back against aliens in defense of Super Earth is challenging solo, so you’ll want some friendlies. If nothing else, having some teammates means there’ll be someone to witness your glorious end if you die. With Quickplay and other options available, here’s what you need to know about how matchmaking works in Helldivers 2.
Helldivers 2 Matchmaking Explained
Although there are workarounds, Helldivers 2 is designed for matchmaking not for solo play. Since no balance adjustments are made on your behalf if you try to go it alone, it’s a much better idea to bring some friends with you to the fight. There are a couple of ways to do so. To join another player’s mission, visit the Galactic War Table and select Quickplay. That will begin a search for players who have activated their SOS beacon. If you want to jump into someone else’s group rather than start your own, this is the route you want to take.
Sometimes you might want to bring other players into your game rather than joining theirs. If you’d prefer that other players join your mission, you’ll want to do the following:
- Open “Settings”
- Navigate to “Options”
- Set your matchmaking policy to “Public”
Matchmaking Tips
You can also disable or enable crossplay from the options menu to broaden the scope of matchmaking or ensure you’re all on the same system. In general, turning crossplay on is a good idea, as that tends to speed up matchmaking. Remember that the game has struggled with matchmaking errors since launch, so you may have issues as you try to squad up. Stay persistent, and you’ll find a group eventually. It’s worth mentioning that good coordination is pretty much mandatory at higher difficulty levels. Matchmaking with strangers is always a toss of the dice in Helldivers 2, so if you’re struggling to make progress with random matchmaking, it’s worth trying to find a dedicated group so you can hone your coordination.
Helldivers 2 is available for PC and PlayStation 5.
