Editing Category:Helldivers 2

[[Category:Sony]]
[[Category:Arrowhead Game Studios]]
[[Category:Video games]]

== '''PSN Account Linking Controversy, May 3, 2024''' ==
The controversy surrounding ''Helldivers 2'' on PC stemmed from Sony's decision to require players to link a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to their Steam copy of the game. This mandate was announced on May 3, 2024, and was set to take effect on May 6 for new players and by June 4 for existing ones. Sony stated that this requirement was necessary to "uphold the values of safety and security provided on PlayStation and PlayStation Studios games" . [https://www.psu.com/news/helldivers-2-psn-account-playstation-network-account-linking-controversy-explained/ Link]

The announcement was met with significant backlash from the gaming community. Players criticized the decision for several reasons:

'''Retroactive Enforcement''': The requirement was introduced months after the game's launch, catching many players off guard.

'''Geographical Limitations''': PSN is unavailable in 177 countries, effectively locking out a substantial portion of the player base . [https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/sony-makes-helldivers-2-psn-account-linking-u-turn-gamer-uproar-and-review-bombing-turned-the-tide Link]

'''Privacy Concerns''': Players expressed unease over the necessity to create a PSN account for a game they had purchased on Steam, raising questions about data collection practices.  [https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/playstation-u-turns-after-helldivers-2-steam-backlash-scraps-mandatory-psn-account-linking/ Link]

The backlash was swift and intense, with over 200,000 negative reviews flooding the game's Steam page, causing its rating to plummet to "Overwhelmingly Negative" . Additionally, the game was delisted from Steam in 177 countries where PSN is unavailable, further exacerbating the situation . [https://afkgaming.com/gaming/general/sony-cancels-mandatory-psn-account-linking-for-helldivers-2-after-community-backlash Link]

In response to the uproar, Sony reversed its decision on May 6, 2024, announcing that the PSN account linking would not be implemented. The company acknowledged the feedback and stated, "We’re still learning what is best for PC players, and your feedback has been invaluable" . Following this reversal, the game's Steam rating improved significantly, with many players updating their reviews to reflect the change. [https://www.techpowerup.com/322147/sony-reverses-decision-of-mandatory-psn-account-for-helldivers-2-after-negative-feedback Link]