A new Helldivers 2 patch is here and will hopefully put the whole PlayStation Network account linking debacle to bed once and for all, as it's now been added as an explicitly "optional" setting.
05.05.2024 - 20:11 / gamerant.com / Johan Pilestedt / Dominik Bo
Arrowhead is currently in discussions with Sony over how to deal with the ongoing controversy surrounding the retroactive enforcement of the PSN account requirement for playing Helldivers 2 on PC, a senior company official has revealed. This community update also offered some additional insights into the ongoing Helldivers 2 drama.
The PlayStation-published live-service shooter was released in early February for the PS5 and PC. Its Steam version was initially sold internationally, offering an optional ability to link the game with one's PlayStation Network account. But that was never an option for many, as Sony only offers PSN in 73 out of the 195 countries across the world. While it's technically possible to create an account for a supported region from anywhere on the planet, even without a VPN, doing so is against Sony's terms of service and grounds for a ban. But the upcoming Helldivers 2 update that's set to roll out on May 6 will make PSN account linking mandatory, the publisher said on May 3, inciting widespread backlash from the fandom.
Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt initially responded to the Helldivers 2 PSN drama by vowing to «regain the trust» of the community. The vague pledge was met with polarizing reactions from the company's customers. Pilestedt has now once again taken to social media to offer some clarity on the situation, stating that the Swedish studio is currently in the process of «talking solutions with PlayStation.» And while the executive assured fans that their «voice has been heard,» he noted that he doesn't have «the final say» over how the situation will be handled.
Despite the decision on the solution being out of his hands, Pilestedt conceded that he shoulders some responsibility for the ongoing Helldivers 2 controversy. He hence admitted that it was his decision to make the PSN account linking optional at launch. «I am not blameless in all of this,» the executive wrote, noting Arrowhead was aware of the PSN requirement being mandatory around half a year ahead of the game's release.
The May 3 Steam post announcing the controversial update cited «technical issues at launch» as the main reason for making the PSN account requirement optional. The post did not characterize this «grace period» as Arrowhead's decision. The PSN FAQ previously described account linking as optional for playing PlayStation games on PC, but was updated to insist that it's mandatory following the controversial announcement.
Many fans have so far objected to Helldivers 2 being sold internationally with full knowledge of this requirement. Pilestedt said that was not his decision in response to one such comment. Around the time the executive was sharing his insights with the community, Sony delisted
A new Helldivers 2 patch is here and will hopefully put the whole PlayStation Network account linking debacle to bed once and for all, as it's now been added as an explicitly "optional" setting.
Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead has released the Polar Patriots Premium Warbond as planned after the boss of the studio polled fans on whether it should go ahead so soon after what he called “negative sentiment” over the game’s PlayStation Network account linking.
Another Helldivers 2 update is now available to download on the PlayStation 5 and PC. Identified by version number 01.000.303, this release is largely focused on fixing some «common» causes of Helldivers 2 crashes.
Helldivers 2 Community Manager 'Spitz' is seemingly no longer with Arrowhead Game Studios following outings he did over the now-canceled mandatory PSN account linking update.
Being a Helldivers 2 fan has been an absolute rollercoaster over this past weekend, with the game being the most loved live service game out there, to the most hated, and back again over the course of just a few days. Most of you will know that this was down to Sony's sudden implementation of its PSN account system, requiring Helldivers 2 players on Steam to sign up for the PlayStation Network if they want to continue playing.
Helldivers 2 has been a huge hit this yea,r with a consistent player base since its launch in February and a peak of over 450,000 players. Fighting for Super Earth, players have been waging war against monstrous insects and deadly robots and laying down their lives for democracy. But the game’s reputation took a hit recently when it was announced that PC players would have to register for a PlayStation Network account to continue playing the game — a move that would have left players in parts of the world with no PSN support high and dry.
After several days of player outcry, pushback, and extensive review bombing, Sony has backed down from its demand that Helldivers 2 players be required to link a PSN account on PC if they wanted to continue playing.
The long awaited Ghost of Tsushima PC port arrives later this month on May 16 and following the recent kerfuffle over Helldivers 2 and its PSN account link requirement on PC, players have been wondering if Ghost of Tsushima will require the same. Well, there’s good news and bad news.
It’s been a tumultuous few days for Helldivers 2, as one of this year’s most beloved runaway hits managed to seemingly undo all of its goodwill and earn the ire of thousands of players in the blink of an eye.
After the backlash and subsequent U-turn on Helldivers 2 requiring players to link their Steam account to a PlayStation Network account, the next PlayStation flagship headed to PC has sought to reassure players that you won’t need a PSN account to play its single-player campaign. Multiplayer’s a different case, though.
In response to the recent negativity surrounding Helldivers 2 and PlayStation Network account requirements, Sucker Punch issued a statement in an attempt to clarify its use in the upcoming PC version of Ghost of Tsushima. It's been a rough few days for Arrowhead Game Studios, who took the brunt of the controversy surrounding a recent announcement that would require Helldivers 2 players to link to a PSN account. The backlash was so severe that Helldivers 2 was actively review bombed on Steam, the refund policy was changed, and ultimately, Sony issued a statement abandoning its PSN plans.
Sony has reversed a decision that would have required Helldivers 2 players to link their Steam accounts to PlayStation Network accounts.