Sony Backpedals on Controversial Helldivers 2 PSN Account Linking Update

PlayStation has announced that it no longer plans to push the controversial Helldivers 2 PlayStation Network account-linking update. The Helldivers 2 community was rocked by controversy after it was announced that PC users would have to link their Steam account to Sony’s PlayStation Network by June if they wanted to continue playing the game. However, the resulting public outcry has seemingly convinced the publisher to rescind its decision.

In contrast to the overwhelmingly positive reception it received in the weeks following its release, Helldivers 2 has been the subject of widespread criticism from its own player base recently, with fans largely blindsided when developer Arrowhead Game Studios announced it would start requiring PC users to link their Steam account to PSN after a month-long grace period. The extreme public backlash was even severe enough to catch the attention of the developers, with members reportedly hosting internal discussions regarding how to resolve Helldivers 2‘s biggest controversy since its release and negotiable possible alternatives with publisher Sony.

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Now, it seems the negotiations have borne fruit, and the wave of negative reviews for Helldivers 2 and calls for refunds have convinced the publisher to rethink its stipulations. The official PlayStation account on Twitter shared a post stating that it was scrapping plans for the account-linking update and that players will be able to continue spreading managed democracy without a PSN account for the foreseeable future. PlayStation concluded the post by additionally thanking PC players for their feedback and promising to keep them updated on future developments for Arrowhead Game Studios’ hit PvE cooperative shooter.

Helldivers 2 Players Celebrate Sony Account-Linking Backpedal

Fans were overjoyed by the announcement, with the majority of users calling it a collective win for the player base as a whole. However, there were also some who remained concerned over the game’s future. Several commenters were particularly worried whether this meant Sony had learned its lesson or if this recent victory for the fans was only delaying the implementation of an account-linking requirement to a later date. There were additionally users who questioned if this meant Helldivers 2 would return to the 177 regions where sales were discontinued.

Now that Sony and Arrowhead Game Studios’ account linking controversy is seemingly over, players will likely be looking forward to returning their focus to the Galactic War and the ongoing conflict against the Terminids and the Automatons. Despite the recent storm, additional content is still expected to hit live servers soon, with Helldivers 2‘s upcoming Polar Patriots Warbond scheduled for release on May 9.

Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 is a third-person cooperative shooter developed by Arrowhead Games Studios for the PC and PlayStation 5 where players take control of a Helldiver set to protect the citizens of Super Earth by traveling to hostile alien worlds and destroying threats. Players undergo missions, defeat enemies, and use special items called Stratagems to help turn the tide of battle in this punishing release.

Franchise

Helldivers

Released

February 8, 2024

Developer(s)

Arrowhead Game Studios

Genre(s)

Shooter

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence

Metascore

83

Platforms That Support Crossplay

PC & PS5

Number of Players

1-4