How To Fix Helldivers 2 Quickplay Not Working [PS5, PC]

Helldivers 2 is a fantastic co-op shooter game, especially fun with friends. But even if you prefer playing alone like me, the game still delivers an intense experience. The game provides high levels of customization with high-octane strategic action gameplay to keep you on the edge of your seat. However, that rush quickly fades as players continue to experience issues with the Quickplay not working in Helldivers 2.

This issue is caused due to a bug in the game, locking you out of multiplayer. However, no matter the root cause, don’t fret: I have several methods to get you back to smooth sailing.

Check Server Status

First and foremost, make sure the servers are up and running. They often go down for maintenance or congestion-related reasons. Further, if the servers are down, so are the multiplayer and online. So, this will help you save time trying to play Helldivers 2 when it’s not possible to do so in the first place.

Helldivers server maintenance is now over. Go #SpreadDemocracy again!

— Arrowhead Game Studios (@ArrowheadGS) March 12, 2015

You can do this by heading to the Official Arrowhead Game Studios Twitter handle. Once there, check for any maintenance-related tweets. If there are some active ones, there’s nothing to do but wait the period out. However, if there aren’t any, move onward with the methods.

Disable Crossplay

If the servers are working fine and the Quickplay is still not working in Helldivers 2, I suggest disabling cross-platform play. If crossplay is enabled, the matchmaker attempts to match PS5 and PC players together. This can become a problem as the game tries factors in network latency so both parties have similar pings in-match.

This can lead to the matchmaking system not finding a suitable match within a reasonable timeframe, leading to an error. However, this can be avoided by turning the feature off, which players online have found helpful as well.

Go through the following steps to do so:

1. Launch Helldivers 2 > Open Settings > Go to Options > Switch to the Gameplay Tab.
2. Under the General section, find the Crossplay Option.

   

3. Turn Off the Feature > Save the Changes by clicking on Apply.

Once done, restart Helldivers 2 before checking if the issue persists.

Play On Automation Planets

The issue can also occur if you are playing on bug planets. This is simply because of a bug in the game that makes it hard to do so for the time being. So, while annoying, I suggest playing on Automation Planets instead and see if Quickplay works for you.

If this hits the mark in your case, avoiding Automation Planets will be a good idea until an official update addresses the problem.

Check for Updates

If your game is not on the latest version, it will throw errors when you try to go online because of a difference in game versions. This is typically done to ensure a fairer experience and prevent compatibility issues, bugs, or glitches from arising when playing online.

So, I suggest checking for any pending updates for Helldivers 2 for a seamless experience. Depending on your platform, go through the individual steps.

PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5 automatically checks for and downloads updates for all installed games. This is done in rest mode when it’s connected to the Internet. However, you can also manually check for updates.

Here’s the process to do so:

1. Go to the Home Screen > Move to the Games Tab. 
2. Find Helldrivers 2 > Press Options on your controller.
3. Select Check for Update from the drop-down menu.

   

PC

Steam also automatically downloads and installs updates for games by default. However, you can see if updates are downloading or not.

Here’s how to do so:

1. Launch the Steam Client > Click on Manage Downloads at the Bottom.
2. Resume the Update if Paused for Helldiver 2.

   

Verify game files

Lastly, if the Quickplay still doesn’t work for you in Helldivers 2, I recommend verifying the game files for Helldivers 2. They store critical data that is essential for proper functioning. This can include installation files, textures, maps, and saved game progress.

However, these files can become corrupted for various reasons, such as sudden crashes or malware infections. So, doing this will replace any damage done, allowing you to play the game again. Steam offers a built-in tool for the task, unlike a PS5. However, you can try rebuilding the PS5 Database to achieve the same effect.

Perform the following steps for a PS5:

1. Power Down your PS5 completely. (Don’t put it in Rest Mode)
2. Hold the Power Button down for ~7 Seconds until you hear the Second Beep.
3. Connect your DualSense controller > Select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database.

   

This process can take some time, depending on your storage size. After it is complete, restart your PS5 normally and check if the problem persists.

My Thoughts

Helldivers 2 just came out, so matchmaking problems like these are bound to happen. This is common among live service games at launch, especially those with crossplay capabilities. Similarly, the Quickplay not working is also a server-side problem for the most part from Helldivers 2. 

Helldivers 2 Quickplay Not Working, Failed to Join Game Lobby.

— Haoran Wang (@haoranwang0527) February 8, 2024

The issue has also been relatively widespread, with people resorting to Twitter to express annoyance. This is also easy to see with the many reports pouring in from forums like Reddit and Steam. However, while the issue is still listed as a Known Issue, the developers have somewhat addressed it in Patch 01.000.004.

Another update on HELLDIVERS 2 from Game Director Mikael Eriksson: pic.twitter.com/IqvVb7efVf

— Arrowhead Game Studios (@ArrowheadGS) February 8, 2024

So, the issue still mostly runs at large. However, I am sure a workaround is being implemented. But until a rock-solid update is dropped, I am confident the methods outlined will help you get around the issue.