In a surprising reversal, Sony has abandoned its plans to mandate PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking for PC players of the wildly popular game Helldivers 2. The decision comes after a wave of intense backlash and review bombing campaigns from disgruntled players across the globe.
Originally, Sony announced that starting May 6th, all new Helldivers 2 players on Steam would be required to link their accounts to PSN. Existing players were given until May 30th to comply, with the requirement becoming mandatory by June 4th. Sony cited the need for account linking to enable effective moderation and appeals for banned players as the primary reason behind the move.
However, the decision drew immediate and widespread criticism, particularly from players in regions where PSN is not available. Helldivers 2 was pulled from sale in 177 countries, including Egypt, Georgia, Jamaica, and Morocco, leaving many players unable to access the game they had already purchased. Adding to the chaos, creating PSN accounts with false information to circumvent regional restrictions would violate Sony’s terms of service, putting players at risk of potential bans.
Helldivers 2 is no longer purchasable in 177 countries where PSN is not available (but some are still available like Baltics).
This game has now received 215,000 negative reviews. pic.twitter.com/jJrb9QFafR
— SteamDB (@SteamDB) May 5, 2024
The backlash was swift and severe. Helldivers 2’s recent Steam review score plummeted to “Mostly Negative,” with over 385,000 negative reviews pouring in. Other Sony and Arrowhead games also faced review bombing campaigns as frustrations mounted.
Johan Pilestedt, CEO of Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead, acknowledged the studio’s role in the confusion, admitting that they failed to properly communicate the account linking requirement to players before launch. However, he maintained that the final decision rested with Sony as the publisher.
Amidst the growing outcry, Sony has now backtracked on the controversial move. In a statement, the company said, “Helldivers fans – we’ve heard your feedback on the Helldivers 2 account linking update. The May 6 update, which would have required Steam and PlayStation Network account linking for new players and for current players beginning May 30, will not be moving forward.”
Helldivers fans — we’ve heard your feedback on the Helldivers 2 account linking update. The May 6 update, which would have required Steam and PlayStation Network account linking for new players and for current players beginning May 30, will not be moving forward.
We’re still…
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) May 6, 2024
Sony further acknowledged, “We’re still learning what is best for PC players, and your feedback has been invaluable. Thanks again for your continued support of Helldivers 2, and we’ll keep you updated on future plans.”
With the PSN account linking mandate scrapped, Arrowhead has stated that they are now working on alternative systems to replace the moderation functionality the linking would have provided.
While Helldivers 2 players can breathe a sigh of relief for now, the incident highlights the ongoing challenges publishers face in catering to the unique needs and expectations of the PC gaming community. As Sony navigates this landscape, the company has promised to continue learning and adapting its approach to better serve PC players in the future.
