Xbox and PlayStation swap historic franchises in the same day

August 26, 2025, will go down in history as a date that broke traditional gaming boundaries. For the first time, two of the most iconic franchises from each ecosystem arrived on the rival console: Gears of War on PlayStation and Helldivers 2 on Xbox.

The classic third-person action game created by Epic Games and now a flagship for Xbox is now available on PlayStation 5. The Reloaded Edition brings technical improvements such as 4K resolution, up to 120 frames per second, and support for cross-platform play.

Additionally, it features shared progression between consoles and PC, and in the case of PS5, it was also released in physical format, a detail not repeated on other platforms.

In parallel, Xbox is receiving a title developed by PlayStation Studios for the first time. This is Helldivers 2, the cooperative action game that, upon its release in February 2024, became one of Sony's biggest recent hits.

The title arrives on Xbox Series X|S with cross-play and cross-progression support, allowing players to share games and progress with PC and PlayStation users. Additionally, the launch comes with a Halo: ODST-inspired Warbond, a direct nod to Microsoft's most iconic series.

The crossover of these two titles marks a turning point in the relationship between Sony and Microsoft consoles. What until recently seemed like an impossible scenario—that exclusive franchises would reach the competition—is now a reality.

The opening responds to an industry increasingly focused on connectivity, multiplatform services, and global access to content. August 26th is remembered as the day Xbox and PlayStation blurred, at least for a moment, the lines that separated them.

@soynicotech2

What a time to be alive. Xbox just released one of its most iconic franchises on PlayStation 5, while PlayStation just released its first game on Xbox Series, one of its most recent hits.

♬ original sound - uu