Right before the storm of Gamescom 2025, we finally got a full reveal of the Helldivers 2 X Halo: ODST crossover. To most fans’ surprise, what was initially believed to be a small cosmetic crossover turns out to be a full-fledged Warbond!
What Is in the Helldivers 2 X Halo: ODST Warbond?
Unlike the previous Killzone crossover, which featured two armor sets, weapons, and capes that were only available for a short time in the in-game store. The Halo: ODST crossover is a Legendary Warbond that players can pick up and progress through the pass at the cost of 1500 Super Credits.
Through this new Warbond, players can grab the:
- A-9 Helljumper & A-35 Recon Armor Sets with the Feet First Armor Passives
- MASC Assault Rifle
- M7S SMG
- M90A Shotgun
- M6C/SOCOM Pistol
- Mean Green Skins for the Exo Suit, FRV, Shuttle & Hellpod
- Eye of the Clandestine & Honored Heirloom Player Banners/Capes
- The Rookie player title
However, for hardcore Halo fans, there are a lot of references to unpack. From the initial reveal trailer to the cosmetics themselves.
All Halo 3: ODST References
The announcement trailer parodies several elements from Halo 3: ODST. The first reference is the opening text crawl, which mirrors the game’s initial opening cutscene. The unforgettable Deference for Darkness track accompanies the initial text crawl. Afterwards, the trailer cuts to a recreation of the Keep it Clean announcement trailer for ODST. Also, the music used for the combat section of the trailer is the iconic Skyline track.
As for the in-game references, the A-9 Helljumper armor is themed and references Rookie’s armor and their squad Alpha-Nine. The A-35 Recon armor is Veronica Dare’s armor, which comes with the Recon helmet she wears. The armor’s passive ability, “Feet First,” also references the motto associated with the ODSTs.
However, the most interesting reference is on the M6C/SOCOM Pistol. The number of ingravings on the side reads as 0922200910102552. This translates to the dates 09/22/2009 and 10/10/2552. ODST’s release date was on September 9th, 2009. However, the time frame in which ODST takes place is on October 20th, 2552, and not the 10th. Fans were quick to point out this possible error, while some actually claimed it references The Battle of October 10th, an obscure piece of Halo lore. This may be how the warbond integrates into the Helldivers universe.
There also appear to be a few symbols carved into the pistol. These small Easter eggs have been featured several times in the past Halo games, so this one likely translates to something along the lines of “Freedom & Liberty.”
Also, noted by the game director Johan Pilestedt, all crossovers done in Helldivers become canon to the Helldivers universe. This means while the ODSTs are now canon in Helldivers 2, they have gone through some slight tweaks to fit the narrative. Instead of being the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, they are now renamed the “Obedient Democracy Support Troopers.”
You know the music, time to dance. Players can expect to pick up this Legendary Warbond on August 26th. Are you excited for the Helldivers 2 crossover? Keep an eye on our latest news for future updates!
