Sony Interactive Entertainment and PlayStation listened to the vociferous negative feedback regarding the company’s decision to require PlayStation Network accounts to play Helldivers 2 via Steam and will no longer be implementing that policy going forward.
Screenshot of Helldivers 2 (2024), Arrowhead Game Studios
PlayStation posted an update on X at midnight on May 6th. It states, “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.”
It added, “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.”
PlayStation on X
Helldivers 2 CEO Johan Pilestedt reacted to the news writing, “Firstly, I am impressed by the willpower of the Helldivers 2 community and your ability to collaborate.”
He added, “Secondly I want to thank our partners and friends at PlayStation for quickly and effectively making the decision to leave PSN linking optional. We together want to set a new standard for what a live game is, and how developers and community can support each other to create the best game experiences.”
Johan Pilestedt on X
Sony originally announced, “Due to technical issues at the launch of HELLDIVERS™ 2, we allowed the linking requirements for Steam accounts to a PlayStation Network account to be temporarily optional. That grace period will now expire. See details below in this post.”
“Account linking plays a critical role in protecting our players and upholding the values of safety and security provided on PlayStation and PlayStation Studios games,” the company posited. “This is our main way to protect players from griefing and abuse by enabling the banning of players that engage in that type of behaviour. It also allows those players that have been banned the right to appeal.”
It then declared, “As such, as of May 6th, all new HELLDIVERS 2 players on Steam will be required to connect their Steam account to a PlayStation Network account. Current players on Steam will start to see the mandatory login from May 30th and will be required to have linked a Steam and PlayStation Network account by June 4th.”
Helldivers 2 announcement requiring PlayStation Network linking
As noted in the post above to X, this policy will no longer go into effect. It comes in the wake of a massive backlash to the proposed policy. That saw the active peak concurrent players fall below 100,000 on Sunday, May 5th.
The peak concurrent dipped over 20,000 players in just two days since the policy was announced. Steam DB reports on Sunday, May 5th peak concurrent only topped up at 95,781.
Helldivers 2 concurrent players data via Steam DB
Players also bombarded the game with negative reviews on Steam. On May 3rd following the announcement it received 62,477 negative reviews and only 252 positive reviews. On May 4th, the negative reviews increased to 114,303. There were no positive reviews. The negative reviews climbed even higher on May 5th to 154,651.
Since the change in policy, the game has received 96,750 positive reviews.
Helldivers 2 reviews via Steam DB
A number of players were also requesting refunds. One Helldivers 2 fan account shared a screenshot of an individual who requested a refund because “Sony [had] retroactively changed how the game works and forced legal agreements upon me I do not accept.”
Based on the screenshot, the purchase was refunded despite the player having over 97 hours played in the game.
Refunds on Steam work!!
Here is good guy Steam accepting simple, straightforward logic.#Helldivers2 pic.twitter.com/IajnG0udjO
— Helldivers 2 Media (@Helldiversmedia) May 4, 2024
What do you make of Sony backing down on rolling out their PlayStation Network account linking policy for Steam players for Helldivers 2?
If they wanted to require PSN account links, that needed to be a consistent policy that started at launch, not a post-lauch TOS change.
I don’t think it’s a good policy, even then, because it is racist. Of the 120+ countries where PSN is not available, the vast majority of them are non-White countries.
These people !!! Everything is going into the toilet.