Sony reinforces its stance by removing Helldivers 2 from sale in 177 countries and territories where PSN access is unavailable, while Arrowhead CEO acknowledges, “I don’t have the final say.”
Over 211,000 negative reviews on Steam have been recorded and are still accumulating for the game formerly hailed as the people’s champion of 2024.
Update: Sony has recently reversed its stance on the requirement for players of Helldivers 2 to log into a PSN account. However, discussions regarding Sony’s contentious mandate for PlayStation Network sign-ins in Helldivers 2 on PC persist within Arrowhead Games, the studio responsible for the game. Despite ongoing deliberations, Sony appears to be reinforcing its position by ceasing sales of the game in regions where PSN services are unavailable.
Originally, Helldivers 2 was designed to mandate players signing into the PlayStation Network within the game. However, this prerequisite was not enforced initially due to limitations in network infrastructure, particularly evident during the game’s early server-related issues. Nonetheless, Sony announced two days ago its intention to gradually enforce this requirement over a month.
While this mandate may seem a minor inconvenience for most players, PC users in regions lacking PSN access could potentially find themselves entirely barred from accessing the game. Surprisingly, even Sony appears taken aback by this, as an FAQ from the publisher in the Helldivers 2 Discord seems to suggest advising players to set their PSN account to a different country, a clear violation of Sony’s terms of service. Addressing this oversight has now become the top priority for Arrowhead Games in their discussions with Sony.
As reported by SteamDB, Helldivers 2 has been removed from sale on Steam in 177 countries and territories, with the exception of Japan, where a different version of the game is available, likely due to localization concerns. The affected regions are those without access to PSN services, indicating a preemptive measure in anticipation of potentially leaving players unable to sign up for PSN stranded.
The backlash against this decision continues unabated on Steam, with over 211 thousand recent negative reviews, resulting in an overall “Mixed” rating for the game on the platform. The surge in negative reviews is noteworthy, with almost 130 thousand new negative reviews in the past day alone. Some players have reportedly received refunds from Steam, despite exceeding the platform’s usual refund window.
Arrowhead Games, the developer of Helldivers 2, finds itself embroiled in the controversy, with its critically acclaimed game facing significant backlash due to Sony’s decision-making. Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt has sought to reassure the community that discussions with Sony are ongoing, emphasizing their commitment to representing the players’ voices. However, Pilestedt acknowledges that the final decision ultimately rests with Sony.
Sony’s insistence on implementing this sign-in requirement, ostensibly to bolster its PSN ecosystem, has incited outrage among players and threatens to tarnish the reputation of both Sony and Helldivers 2. Despite attempts to address the situation, the damage may already be extensive, reminiscent of similar controversies in the gaming industry that irrevocably eroded community trust.
In hindsight, Sony’s persistence in enforcing this requirement, despite mounting backlash, appears misguided. Continuing down this path risks further alienating the player base and exacerbating the damage to the reputations of both Sony and Helldivers 2. Moreover, maintaining the status quo would require less effort and potentially avoid the reputational fallout witnessed thus far.
Whether Sony comprehends the gravity of the situation remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the fallout from this debacle could have enduring repercussions for both Sony and Helldivers 2, underscoring the importance of thoughtful decision-making and community engagement in the gaming industry.