How to Fix Helldivers 2's "Unable to Establish Connection" Error

The recent launch of Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 on PC and PlayStation has seen no shortage of success within a week or two. However, some unfortunate souls have run into connectivity issues like the "unable to establish connection" error when trying to play the game. Luckily, there are a few workarounds that may get you back in the fight.

What Causes the "Unable to Establish Connection" Error in Helldivers 2
How to Fix "Unable to Establish Connection" Error in Helldivers 2
- Short-Term Workarounds
- Long-Term Solutions

What Causes the "Unable to Establish Connection" Error in Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 requires an internet connection and servers to play since there is no offline mode option. So problems like the "unable to establish connection" error boil down to not being able to link up with those servers properly.

This could be due to your own connection, but more likely points to temporary server outages or downtime on the developers' end. As a brand new, extremely popular online game, Helldivers 2 has faced some early growing pains when it comes to server stability.

How to Fix "Unable to Establish Connection" Error in Helldivers 2

Let us divide it into two parts:

Short-Term Workarounds

Use a VPN - Many users have reported launching their VPN allows them to connect when Helldivers 2 otherwise gives the error. You can disconnect the VPN again without losing access once you're past the title screen.
Disable Crossplay - Reducing the connectivity pool seems to lessen the chance of seeing the connection error for some.

Long-Term Solutions

Check server status alerts on the game's Twitter feed and Discord for updates on any outages impacting connectivity.
If errors persist despite servers being up, submit a ticket to Arrowhead support detailing your platform, network setup, and any error codes. Detailed reports help them pinpoint and patch causes.

Regardless of the issues and errors in Helldivers 2, we recommend you to play the game as it is one of the best games that has launched in this year. Stay strong and keep fighting, recruits!

Read our other guides on Helldivers 2 as well: