Sony Reverses Helldivers 2 PSN Account Requirement After Backlash
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Sony Reverses Helldivers 2 PSN Account Requirement After Backlash
Sony Reverses Helldivers 2 PSN Account Requirement After Backlash
The Helldivers 2 community breathed a collective sigh of relief as Sony announced the reversal of the PSN account linking requirement for PC players.
What Led to the Change of Heart?
Recently, Sony announced that Helldivers 2 would require Steam players to link their account to a PlayStation Network account. The backlash was swift and severe, with over 14,000 negative reviews on Steam within hours of the announcement. This number ballooned to over 200,000 negative reviews in the two days after, enough to reverse the game’s rating from “overwhelmingly positive” to “overwhelmingly negative”.
The Community’s Reaction
The community manager of Helldivers 2, Spitz, encouraged players to express their displeasure by review bombing the game on Steam. Players took this to heart, with some even targeting the original Helldivers game. Arrowhead Game Studios CEO Johan Pilestedt expressed his dismay at this, stating that it deeply saddened him to see the original game being review bombed due to the controversy.
Why the Requirement Was Implemented
According to Pilestedt, the unstable condition of the game’s launch forced them to delay implementing the requirement. Internal discussions with PlayStation had also raised concerns that the requirement would anger fans.
The Resolution
After a weekend of strong backlash, Sony announced that it would rescind the PSN linking requirement. The game has been restored in the countries where it was previously removed, and players are slowly changing their negative reviews. Helldivers 2 now sits at a “mixed” rating as the number of positive reviews ticks up.
A Lesson Learned
The Helldivers 2 controversy serves as a reminder of the importance of listening to the community. Pilestedt expressed his appreciation for fans and thanked PlayStation for resolving the matter swiftly. The incident may have been a setback, but it ultimately brought the community closer together.
