Helldivers 2 has been a massive success on both Steam and PS5. Players loved the planetary chaos, over-the-top action, and surprisingly smart live-service elements, it’s easy to see why people have been loving it. However, Sony has just set off a firestorm of controversy with a seemingly out-of-the-blue decision: Requiring all PC players to link their Steam accounts to a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to continue playing. What started as a huge win for Sony might end up a self-inflicted wound. Why are players so angry?
- How to Unlock Shield Generator Relay in Helldivers 2
- How To Farm Medals in Helldivers 2
- How To Get and Use the Recoilless Rifle in Helldivers 2
The Bait-and-Switch
While a notice technically existed about the upcoming PSN requirement, it was optional at first and easy to miss. This feels deliberate, drawing players in before yanking the rug out from under them. For a lot of PC gamers, owning a PlayStation isn’t a thing. Forcing them to create a PSN account is annoying and feels pointless.
The PSN hasn’t had the greatest history in terms of security. Asking people to create accounts always comes with risk. Worst of all, many countries don’t actually have access to the PSN! This leaves a huge chunk of players unable to continue the game they bought, despite it being sold in their region initially. It’s shady, and might even violate Sony’s own terms of service.
It’s Not Looking Good
Helldivers 2 has been completely removed from the Steam storefront in over 170 countries lacking PSN access. Ouch. Valve, the company behind Steam, is reportedly granting refunds even to players who are way beyond the usual two-hour refund window. That speaks volumes about how they view Sony’s decision.
Importantly, even the folks at Arrowhead (the talented team who made the game) seem frustrated, clarifying that this decision came from Sony and not them. Even the CEO spoke up and confirmed that he is looking for a solution to this issue.
Is this the moment to tweet "What? You guys don't have phones?" 😵💫
— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 5, 2024
On serious note: We are talking solutions with PlayStation, especially for non-PSN countries. Your voice has been heard, and I am doing everything I can to speak for the community – but I don't have the final…
So Why Did This Happen?
Sony claims that linking accounts was the plan all along, but that they had an initial “grace period.” This feels like a flimsy excuse.
The real issue seems to be the limited reach of the PlayStation Network itself. Many countries where Steam operates don’t actually have access to PlayStation services.
This has led to a situation where many players who bought the game are now effectively locked out.
What’s Next? Only Sony Knows
The ball is entirely in Sony’s court to fix this mess. The backlash grows louder with each passing day. Will they reverse course? Create exceptions for the regions left out in the cold? At this point, it’s hard to say. One thing’s for sure: the goodwill Helldivers 2 built up has taken a serious hit, and it might hurt their PC gaming efforts going forward.
Find Us on Socials