Helldivers 2 controversy eases as Sony reverts PSN linkage requirement

Posted on May 8, 2024

The controversy surrounding Helldivers 2 has taken a significant turn. After a tumultuous period that saw the game withdrawn from the Steam store in approximately 177 countries, Sony has reverted its requirement for players to link their Steam accounts to a PlayStation Network (PSN) account. This decision came after intense backlash from the community and a severe drop in the game’s ratings on Steam.

Initially, Helldivers 2 required a PSN login to play, which Sony temporarily waived due to network infrastructure issues at launch. The company later attempted to enforce this requirement, leading to the game being unavailable in regions without PSN access. This move resulted in over 420,000 recent negative reviews on Steam, plummeting the game’s rating to “Mixed.”

In response to the widespread discontent, Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilstedt issued an apology via X/Twitter, acknowledging the decision’s impact on the game’s reception. “Ouch, right in the review score. Well, I guess it’s warranted. Sorry everyone for how this all transpired,” Pilstedt said. He expressed his hope to “make it up and regain the trust by providing a continued great game experience.”

Following the community’s reaction and the adverse impact on the game’s reputation, Sony decided to revert the PSN linkage requirement, allowing “Helldivers 2” to be accessible once more across all previously affected regions. This move has been welcomed by players, especially those in countries where PSN services are unavailable.

With Sony’s decision to revert the PSN linkage requirement, both Arrowhead and Sony aim to stabilize the game’s standing and ensure that Helldivers 2 can be enjoyed without additional barriers, attempting to restore goodwill with the Helldivers community.