Helldivers 2

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Helldivers II

Basic Information
Release Year	2024
Product Type	Video game
In Production	Yes
Official Website	https://www.arrowheadgamestudios.com/

Helldivers 2 is a third-person cooperative shooter game for PlayStation 5 and Windows, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and released by Sony Interactive Entertainment in 2024.

Controversies

PSN account requirement

On release, Helldivers 2 did not force PC players to log into a PlayStation Network (PSN) account; this enabled players to avoid the integration. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), however, on May 3, 2024, revealed that the PC version of Helldivers 2 on Steam would be requiring PSN account log-ins in the near future. This would be effective for new users starting from May 6, 2024, and current users would need to adhere by June 4, 2024.

SIE defended the decision by saying that a PSN login was required to "uphold the values of safety and security provided on PlayStation and PlayStation Studios games." They also added that the requirement was not applied at launch for technical reasons.

The announcement resulted in global outcry. Players were upset because Sony had previously stated that PSN accounts were optional for PC games, but later changed this to a vague 'some games' after Johan Pilestedt, CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios, asked players to contact Sony support.

On 4 May, the Steam store page was modified to prohibit sales in 177 countries where PSN is not available, further adding to the anger.

Pilestedt apologized for the surprise change, tweeting:

I hope we will make it up and regain the trust by providing a continued great game experience. I just want to make great games!

Arrowhead developers were found to be backing the players, with one community manager going so far as to ask the player base to leave a negative review on Steam. This led to a review bombing campaign, where almost 53% of all reviews had been negative by May 4, with more than 84,000 negative reviews on Steam.

Reacting to the outrage, on May 5, 2024, Sony announced that it would not pursue the linking requirement for PSN accounts. The firm promised it would collaborate with Arrowhead in developing other mechanisms of safeguarding players.