Helldivers 2 PS5 Can't Join Friends? Other Games Work — Here's What to Check

You can play other multiplayer games normally.

Your PS5 is connected to the internet.

Your friends are online.

But when you launch Helldivers 2, you can't join anyone.

Quickplay finds nothing. SOS requests don't bring anyone into your mission. Invitations fail or appear to do nothing. Sometimes the game gets stuck trying to connect to another player's ship before eventually giving up.

If that sounds familiar, don't immediately assume your PS5 or internet connection is broken.

Helldivers 2 has had matchmaking and multiplayer issues across different platforms, and recent 2026 reports show that some players can play solo while being unable to join friends, Quickplay matches or public lobbies.

The important part is figuring out whether you're dealing with:

- a temporary Helldivers 2 matchmaking problem

- a friend/session problem

- a crossplay or social-menu issue

- a PS5 network problem

- NAT or router compatibility

- or an ISP/network-path problem

This guide walks through the fastest way to find out.

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Quick Answer: Why Can't Helldivers 2 PS5 Join Friends?

If other online games work but Helldivers 2 doesn't, don't start changing every setting on your router.

First determine whether the problem affects:

Only one friend → likely a session, account, social or connection-path problem.

Everyone → matchmaking, game services or your network become more likely.

Quickplay + SOS + friend joining → broader matchmaking/connectivity problem.

Helldivers 2 works after using another internet connection → your home network or ISP becomes the main suspect.

Multiple players are reporting the same problem at the same time → changing your router probably won't fix it.

Recent Helldivers 2 reports show players experiencing failed Quickplay, failed SOS matchmaking and failed friend joining across PS5 and other platforms.

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1. Check Whether Helldivers 2 Is Having a Wider Matchmaking Problem

Before changing anything on your PS5, check whether other players are experiencing the same thing.

This is one of the most important steps.

For example, if:

- Quickplay suddenly stopped working

- SOS beacons aren't finding players

- missions on the Galactic War map appear empty

- friends cannot join you

- you cannot join anyone

- players on different platforms are reporting the same issue

then your PS5 may not be the problem.

In August 2026, multiple Helldivers players reported widespread matchmaking problems affecting PS5, PC and Xbox at the same time. Some players could launch the game and play solo but could not find or join multiplayer lobbies.

Arrowhead has also acknowledged that matchmaking can still experience instability. A recent patch improved matchmaking functionality but specifically noted that some matchmaking instability could remain.

The rule:

If everyone is broken, don't start rebuilding your network.

Wait and monitor the situation first.

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2. Test a Friend Before Testing Your Router

Ask one friend to try joining you.

Then reverse it.

Test A

You host the game.

Your friend tries to join you.

Test B

Your friend hosts.

You try to join them.

The result is useful.

If you can join them but they can't join you

Your session/network may be behaving differently when you are the host.

If they can join you but you can't join them

Their connection may be the part of the connection path causing the problem.

If neither direction works

Continue with the network and matchmaking tests below.

If you can't connect to anyone

The problem is more likely to be broader than one specific friendship/session.

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3. Make Sure You Are Actually Online in Helldivers 2

Your PS5 can show you as online while Helldivers 2's own social system isn't behaving correctly.

Open the in-game Social menu and check your friends.

Look for:

- friends appearing online

- friends appearing on their ship

- pending friend requests

- blocked players

- recent players

Helldivers 2 has its own in-game social system and friend-code functionality. Arrowhead's support documentation confirms that the Social menu contains friends, recent players, pending invitations and blocked players.

If your friend appears completely differently inside Helldivers 2 compared with the PS5 friends list, that is an important clue.

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4. Check Crossplay

Helldivers 2 supports crossplay between platforms.

That means PS5 players can play with players on other supported platforms.

If you are trying to play with someone on another platform, check the game's crossplay setting.

For troubleshooting, you can test:

Crossplay ON → try joining

Then:

Crossplay OFF → test again with a same-platform friend

Don't treat this as a guaranteed fix.

The purpose is diagnosis.

If same-platform joining works while cross-platform joining doesn't, you have narrowed the problem considerably.

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5. Fully Close Helldivers 2

Don't simply return to the PS5 home screen and leave the game suspended.

Do a proper restart.

On PS5:

1. Press the PS button.

2. Highlight Helldivers 2.

3. Press Options.

4. Choose Close Game.

5. Start Helldivers 2 again.

6. Try joining your friend.

This matters because matchmaking and social-session problems can survive a simple return to the home screen.

A complete game restart is also one of the long-standing community workarounds for Helldivers multiplayer/session problems.

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6. Restart the PS5

If completely closing the game didn't help, restart the console.

Go to:

PS button → Power → Restart PS5

Then launch Helldivers 2 again.

Don't start changing DNS, MTU or router ports yet.

We're trying to eliminate the simple possibilities first.

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7. Restart the Router — But Do It Properly

If the problem survives a game and PS5 restart:

1. Close Helldivers 2.

2. Turn off the PS5.

3. Turn off your router.

4. Wait about 60 seconds.

5. Turn the router back on.

6. Wait until the internet connection is fully restored.

7. Start the PS5.

8. Launch Helldivers 2.

9. Test Quickplay and friend joining.

PlayStation's own connection troubleshooting also recommends restarting the router and, where possible, testing a wired connection.

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8. Try Quickplay, Friend Join and SOS Separately

Don't test only one multiplayer function.

Try all three:

Test 1 — Quickplay

Can you find a random squad?

Test 2 — Friend Join

Can you directly join a friend?

Test 3 — SOS

Start a mission, deploy an SOS beacon and see whether another player joins.

The pattern matters.

Quickplay + SOS + friend joining all fail

This looks more like a broad matchmaking/connectivity problem.

Friend joining fails but Quickplay works

This points more toward the specific player/session relationship.

Quickplay works but SOS doesn't

The problem may be specific to how the session is being advertised or discovered.

Everything suddenly starts working later

A temporary service or matchmaking problem becomes more likely.

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9. Test a Different Internet Connection

This is one of the best troubleshooting tests you can perform.

If possible, connect your PS5 temporarily to:

- a phone hotspot

- another Wi-Fi network

- another home connection

- another ISP

Then launch Helldivers 2 and perform the exact same test.

Don't judge the result by internet speed.

You're testing connection behavior, not download speed.

If Helldivers 2 works on the hotspot

Your normal home network becomes suspicious.

Possible causes include:

- NAT configuration

- router problems

- double NAT

- ISP routing

- CGNAT

- IPv4 configuration

If Helldivers 2 still fails on the hotspot

Your home ISP becomes less likely to be the main cause.

That points you back toward the game, PS5, account/session or broader matchmaking problem.

Recent PS5 players have reported trying different networks without success, which is also useful evidence: a hotspot test can narrow the possibilities, but it isn't a guaranteed cure.

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10. Check Your PS5 NAT Type

On PS5:

Settings → Network → Connection Status → Test Internet Connection

Look at:

NAT Type

NAT Type 2 is common for players using a normal home router.

But don't make the mistake of thinking:

"NAT Type 2 = every multiplayer connection must work."

It doesn't.

NAT Type tells you something about the PlayStation's network path, but a specific game can still experience connection problems.

So use NAT Type as a clue — not as the entire diagnosis.

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11. Try a Wired Connection

If you're using Wi-Fi, connect the PS5 directly to your router with an Ethernet cable if possible.

Then test Helldivers 2 again.

PlayStation recommends a wired connection as a troubleshooting step for network problems.

If Ethernet fixes it

Your Wi-Fi connection becomes the main suspect.

Possible causes include:

- weak signal

- interference

- packet loss

- unstable Wi-Fi

- router wireless issues

If Ethernet changes nothing

Continue to the next test.

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12. Check for Double NAT

This is especially important if your internet setup looks like:

ISP modem/router → your router → PS5

You may have two devices performing NAT.

That can complicate multiplayer connections.

Look at your network equipment.

If you have:

- an ISP gateway

- plus your own router

- plus another networking device

find out which device is actually performing routing/NAT.

PlayStation's troubleshooting guidance specifically recommends removing multiple NAT routers when diagnosing connection problems.

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13. Check Your Router's WAN IPv4

If Helldivers 2 continues refusing multiplayer connections, check the address your router receives from your ISP.

Look for:

WAN IP

Internet IPv4

Public IPv4

This is NOT the same as your PS5's local address.

Your PS5 might have something like:

192.168.1.25

That's normal.

We're interested in the router's internet-facing address.

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14. Look for CGNAT

If your router's WAN IPv4 is in:

100.64.0.0 – 100.127.255.255

you may be behind Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT).

That means your ISP may be sharing a public IPv4 address between multiple customers.

For some multiplayer/network configurations, this can make direct connections more complicated.

Important:

CGNAT is not automatically the cause of every Helldivers 2 problem.

Treat it as a diagnostic possibility.

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15. The Mobile Hotspot Test Can Help Confirm CGNAT

Suppose:

Home internet → Helldivers 2 multiplayer fails

Mobile hotspot → Helldivers 2 multiplayer works

That's a strong reason to investigate your home connection.

Now check your router's WAN IPv4.

If it is a 100.64–100.127.x.x address, ask your ISP whether your connection uses CGNAT.

You can tell them:

«"Is my connection behind CGNAT? My router is receiving a 100.x.x.x WAN IPv4 address. Can you provide a public IPv4 address or remove CGNAT?"»

You don't necessarily need a static IP.

The important question is whether your ISP can provide a connection that allows the multiplayer traffic your setup needs.

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16. Don't Start Changing Random DNS or MTU Settings

This is where many troubleshooting guides become unnecessarily complicated.

If Helldivers 2 isn't letting you join friends, don't immediately change:

- DNS

- MTU

- dozens of ports

- random IP settings

- DMZ

- VPN

- advanced firewall settings

Change one thing at a time.

Otherwise you won't know what actually fixed the problem.

PlayStation itself warns that advanced network settings should be changed carefully if you aren't familiar with them.

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17. Check Whether Friend Requests Are Working

This is particularly important in September 2026.

Arrowhead's current known-issues page lists several social issues, including cases where players may not have the option to send, accept or decline friend requests, as well as issues involving blocking and cross-platform friend invites.

So if:

- you can't accept a friend request

- the request never appears

- cross-platform requests disappear

- your friend's social status looks wrong

don't assume your router is responsible.

The problem may be in Helldivers 2's social system.

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18. Check Whether You Are Accidentally Blocking Each Other

This sounds obvious, but Helldivers 2's current support documentation confirms that blocked players cannot directly join sessions hosted by each other and cannot matchmake into each other's sessions.

Open:

Helldivers 2 → Social → Blocked Players

Make sure neither player is accidentally blocked.

This is especially worth checking if:

- you can play with everyone except one friend

- one specific player cannot join you

- the problem started after a previous session

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19. What If Other Multiplayer Games Work Perfectly?

This is actually useful information.

If:

Fortnite → works

EA FC → works

Call of Duty → works

Helldivers 2 → doesn't

don't immediately conclude:

"My internet is broken."

Your connection is clearly capable of supporting online gaming.

The remaining possibilities include:

- Helldivers 2 matchmaking

- Helldivers 2 social/session problems

- a game-specific network interaction

- a platform/crossplay issue

- a particular friend/session

- an ISP configuration that affects this game's connection differently

Recent player reports specifically describe Helldivers 2 failing while other multiplayer games continued working.

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20. What If Everyone Can Play Except You?

Now the diagnosis changes.

If:

- your friends can play Helldivers 2

- Quickplay works for them

- they can join each other

- but you cannot join anyone

then focus on your side first.

Test:

1. Full game restart

2. PS5 restart

3. Router restart

4. Ethernet

5. NAT Type

6. Hotspot

7. Crossplay

8. Social/friend status

9. WAN IPv4 / CGNAT

The hotspot test is especially valuable here.

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Helldivers 2 PS5 Multiplayer Diagnosis

What you see| What it suggests

Everyone suddenly can't Quickplay| Possible matchmaking/service issue

Quickplay + SOS + friend join all fail| Broader matchmaking/connectivity problem

Other games work but Helldivers 2 doesn't| Game-specific or network-path issue

Only one friend can't join| Session/social/connection compatibility

You can host but can't join them| Connection direction may matter

They can host but you can't join| Your connection becomes more suspicious

Ethernet fixes it| Wi-Fi problem likely

Hotspot fixes it| Home network/ISP becomes suspicious

Router has 100.64–100.127.x.x WAN IPv4| Possible CGNAT

Friend request doesn't appear| Current Helldivers social issue possible

Cross-platform friend request fails| Current crossplay/social issue possible

Nobody can connect to anyone| Broader service/matchmaking problem more likely

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The 5-Minute Helldivers 2 PS5 Test

Before spending an hour changing settings, do this.

Test 1

Can you play another multiplayer game?

Yes → your internet isn't completely broken.

Test 2

Can you join a different Helldivers friend?

Yes → the problem may involve one specific session/player.

Test 3

Can Quickplay find a squad?

No → investigate matchmaking/service issues.

Test 4

Does Ethernet change anything?

Yes → investigate Wi-Fi.

Test 5

Does a mobile hotspot work?

Yes → investigate your home network/ISP.

Test 6

Is your router WAN IPv4 100.64–100.127.x.x?

Yes → investigate CGNAT.

Test 7

Are friend requests/crossplay behaving strangely?

Yes → check Helldivers 2's current known issues before changing your router.

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When You Should NOT Change Your Router

If hundreds of players are reporting:

- Quickplay not working

- SOS not working

- empty mission lists

- friends not appearing

- cross-platform matchmaking failing

at the same time, don't start forwarding ports.

That's likely bigger than your home network.

For example, a large number of players reported Helldivers 2 matchmaking problems on August 7, 2026 across PS5, PC and Xbox.

Changing your router cannot repair a server-side matchmaking problem.

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When You SHOULD Investigate Your Network

Network troubleshooting becomes more worthwhile when:

- everyone else can play

- only your PS5 fails

- Ethernet changes the result

- a hotspot changes the result

- your NAT is restrictive

- your router is behind CGNAT

- your setup has multiple NAT routers

- other players can join you but you cannot join them

- the problem happens across multiple Helldivers sessions

That's when the network path becomes a serious suspect.

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Don't Reinstall Helldivers 2 First

A reinstall can be useful for genuine installation problems.

But if:

- the game launches normally

- you can play solo

- your other online games work

- Quickplay/friend joining is the problem

reinstalling should not be your first move.

Recent players have reported trying reinstalls and other drastic troubleshooting without solving multiplayer connection problems.

Diagnose the connection first.

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What Arrowhead Is Still Fixing

Helldivers 2's current official support information is important here.

Arrowhead's September 9, 2026 Known Issues page says that connectivity problems are ongoing areas of work even when they aren't individually listed.

Recent patches have also specifically targeted matchmaking functionality and noted that some matchmaking instability can remain.

That means a player can genuinely have:

A perfectly healthy PS5 + perfectly healthy internet + a Helldivers 2 multiplayer problem.

Don't overlook that possibility.

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Final Answer: What Should You Try First?

If Helldivers 2 on PS5 won't let you join friends but other games work, don't immediately blame your internet.

Follow this order:

1. Check whether other Helldivers players are reporting the same problem.

2. Test Quickplay, SOS and direct friend joining separately.

3. Test both hosting directions.

4. Completely close and restart Helldivers 2.

5. Restart the PS5.

6. Restart the router.

7. Test Ethernet if you're using Wi-Fi.

8. Check PS5 NAT Type.

9. Check crossplay and the in-game Social menu.

10. Try a mobile hotspot.

11. If the hotspot works, investigate your home network and ISP.

12. Check your router's WAN IPv4 for possible CGNAT.

13. If friend requests or cross-platform social features are broken, check Helldivers 2's current known issues before changing your router.

The biggest mistake is assuming there is one magic fix.

There isn't.

The fastest solution is to identify which layer is actually failing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I join my friends in Helldivers 2 on PS5?

Possible causes include matchmaking instability, social/friend-session issues, crossplay problems, NAT compatibility, router configuration, ISP routing or temporary game-service problems. The exact symptoms determine which area you should investigate first.

Why does Helldivers 2 not work when my other games do?

That's possible because different games use different matchmaking and networking systems. If every other multiplayer game works, your internet connection isn't automatically the problem.

Why does Helldivers 2 Quickplay not find anyone?

If Quickplay, SOS and public mission joining all fail at the same time, check whether other players are reporting a wider matchmaking problem before changing your router.

Can NAT Type 2 cause Helldivers 2 connection problems?

NAT Type 2 is generally normal for a PS5 behind a home router, but it doesn't guarantee that every multiplayer session will work. If you're having problems, use NAT as one diagnostic clue rather than assuming it explains everything.

Should I turn off crossplay?

Not necessarily. Helldivers 2 supports crossplay, so turning it off is better used as a troubleshooting test. Try both configurations if you suspect a cross-platform matchmaking problem.

Can CGNAT affect Helldivers 2?

It can complicate some multiplayer/network configurations. If your router receives a WAN IPv4 address in the 100.64.0.0–100.127.255.255 range, ask your ISP whether your connection is behind CGNAT.

How can I test whether my ISP is the problem?

Connect your PS5 temporarily to a mobile hotspot or another internet connection and test the same Helldivers 2 multiplayer function. If it works there but not on your normal connection, investigate your home router and ISP.

Why can't my friend send or accept a Helldivers 2 friend request?

Arrowhead currently lists social and cross-platform friend-request issues among its known issues, so a broken friend request isn't necessarily caused by your PS5 or router.

Should I reinstall Helldivers 2?

Not as your first step. If the game launches and solo play works, diagnose matchmaking, social and network behavior before spending time on a reinstall.

Should I change DNS or MTU?

Don't start there. DNS and MTU changes are not universal Helldivers 2 fixes. Test the simpler possibilities first and change one setting at a time.

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Bottom Line

If Helldivers 2 PS5 can't join friends but your other games work, don't waste hours randomly changing your router.

Start with:

Matchmaking check → friend/session test → full restart → Ethernet → NAT → crossplay/social → hotspot → WAN IPv4 → CGNAT/ISP

That process tells you whether you're dealing with Helldivers 2, your PS5, your home network or your ISP.

And sometimes the correct fix isn't a router setting at all.

Sometimes the problem is simply on Super Earth's side.