If you’re wondering if Helldivers 2 has matchmaking, you’re not alone. Getting matchmaking to work correctly in the game is a bit confusing compared to other co-op shooters, and you’ll want to make sure a few options are enabled to ensure you have the best experience. Fortunately, once these are set, you’ll be good to go.
How does matchmaking work in Helldivers 2?
In Helldivers 2, you can start matchmaking by selecting the quickplay option at the Wartable. The only thing you need to do to unlock it is to complete the tutorial. Once you gain access to your Super Destroyer, you can immediately begin playing multiplayer.
However, before you get started, you should make sure two options are set correctly in the Gameplay menu:
- Set Matchmaking Privacy to Public.
- Turn Cross-play on.
The first option is required if you want to match with random players. The second will ensure there is a larger pool of Helldivers 2 players to matchmake with.
Head to the Galactic War table and select the quickplay option to start matchmaking. However, don’t expect to be assigned to a squad. Instead, in Helldivers 2, you’re matched to players who have used the SOS Beacon Strategem. So, you’ll likely be dropped right into the action.
If you land solo, keep in mind that you’ll need to drop an SOS Beacon to summon other players. You’re better off doing this as soon as you land rather than waiting for there to be trouble. The game is balanced towards multiple players, so you’ll quickly become bug food on greater difficulties if you don’t bring in some buddies ASAP.
However, there have been some issues with matchmaking since launch. The developers have deployed hotfixes, which should alleviate some of the problems. Still, you might find the feature sometimes doesn’t function as intended.