Killzone Looks Set to Return as a Helldivers 2 Crossover

While Sony’s dormant first-person shooter franchise Killzone seems dead in the water in terms of brand new games, it looks set to live on via a crossover with Helldivers 2.

The gritty first-person shooter franchise saw five games released from 2004 to 2013 for a range of PlayStation consoles as Sony took on Xbox’s Halo, culminating in PlayStation 4 launch title Killzone Shadow Fall.

But fans haven’t heard a peep out of Killzone ever since (save a T-shirt in The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered), with the last decade and seemingly beyond devoted to developer Guerrilla Games’ smash hit Horizon franchise. Based on recent comments from one developer, however, we perhaps now know why.

Warning! Helldivers 2 spoilers ahead!

Helldivers 2 dataminer Iron_S1ghts tweeted details on the unannounced Righteous Revenants Warbond, which include armor that features the gas masks and red eyes that will be instantly recognizable as belonging to the Helghast, Killzone’s villainous enemy.

Cementing the leak as legitimate is the telltale asset takedown following a request from the “copyright holder,” in this case Sony.

(Leak) Righteous Revenants Warbond#Helldivers2 pic.twitter.com/QGd4ElinAe

— IronS1ghts (@Iron_S1ghts) December 13, 2024

Killzone feels like a great fit for Helldivers 2, and this leaked crossover has already sparked excitement among fans that Sony may be ready to return to the franchise. Alas, developer Guerrilla Games has its hands full with the Horizon Online project and the inevitable Horizon 3, so if Sony does have plans for more Killzone, it will probably have to come from another developer.

Last month, Arrowhead CCO and Helldivers 2 creative director Johan Pilestedt cautioned against doing too many crossovers, saying “it would dilute the IP and make it a ‘not Helldivers’ experience.” However, he also published an extended list of IPs he “really would love to do a take on!” Killzone, perhaps understandably, was not on the list, below:

• Aliens
• Starship Troopers
• Terminator
• Predator
• Star Wars
• Fifth Element
• Blade Runner
• Warhammer 40k
• Trench Crusade
• Mutant Chronicles
• Dropzone Commander

Helldivers 2 is currently enjoying a resurgence after the release of the long-awaited Illuminate update, which adds a third faction for players to fight against. Expect plenty more from the explosive third-person shooter, which remains the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game of all time with an incredible 12 million copies sold in 12 weeks, in the months ahead.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.