As Helldiver 2’s evaluations proceed to collapse on Steam, Arrowhead’s best-selling motion sport has been pulled from round 177 international locations within the wake of the brand new PSN account linking requirement that has turned its fanbase the other way up.
Egypt, Georgia, Jamaica, and Morocco are a few of the notable international locations the place Helldivers 2 can not be bought due PSN not being obtainable, sparking confusion amongst followers. Japan can be among the many international locations listed, however in accordance to SteamDB it has a separate package deal and remains to be obtainable, although customers cannot purchase the “international model.”
Helldivers 2 is not purchasable in 177 international locations the place PSN will not be obtainable (however some are nonetheless obtainable like Baltics).
This sport has now acquired 215,000 detrimental evaluations. pic.twitter.com/jJrb9QFafR
— SteamDB (@SteamDB) May 5, 2024
Within the meantime, Helldivers 2’s current evaluations on Steam at the moment are “Overwhelmingly Unfavourable” amid continued assessment bombing by followers. On Friday, Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilstedt apologized for the requirement in a press release posted to X/Twitter, writing, “Ouch, proper within the assessment rating. Properly, I suppose it is warranted. Sorry everybody for a way this all transpired. I hope we’ll make it up and regain the belief by offering a continued nice sport expertise. I simply need to make nice video games!”
The controversy kicked off on Friday when Sony Interactive Leisure introduced that the “grace interval” by which Helldivers 2 didn’t want to be linked to a PSN account was ending. Beginning Could 6, all new Helldivers 2 gamers on Steam will probably be required to join their Steam account to PSN. Current Steam gamers will start seeing a compulsory login on Could 30.
The requirement has sparked a large on-line backlash towards SIE that has continued all through the weekend.
“What a clusterf*ck,” wrote independent developer Rami Ismail on X/Twitter. “For all my criticism of Steam — its unbelievable that they are selecting to take the hit for Sony’s nonsense to guarantee no one finally ends up with a unusable sport due to Ps’s tremendous restricted accessibility globally. Completely horrible decision-making by Sony.”
PlayStation has but to reply to the account linking controversy.
Arrowhead is “speaking options” with PlayStation
Up till Friday, Helldivers 2 was a notable win for SIE, incomes Recreation of the 12 months discover for its glorious neighborhood engagement. It has been one of many best-selling video games of 2024 to this level, with an estimated 8 million copies sold as of March 2024. Now its future could also be doubtful as followers abruptly activate the sensationally in style sport.
Is that this the second to tweet “What? You guys do not have telephones?” 😵💫
On critical word: We’re speaking options with PlayStation, particularly for non-PSN international locations. Your voice has been heard, and I’m doing all the things I can to communicate for the neighborhood – however I haven’t got the ultimate…
— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 5, 2024
Amid the anger, Pilestedt stated that Arrowhead is engaged on an answer, however that the studio does not have the ultimate say.
“Is that this the second to tweet ‘What? You guys do not have telephones?'” Pilestedt requested on X/Twitter, referencing Diablo Immortal’s infamous reveal. “On critical word: We’re speaking options with PlayStation, particularly for non-PSN international locations. Your voice has been heard, and I’m doing all the things I can to communicate for the neighborhood — however I haven’t got the ultimate say.”
The Arrowhead CEO, who has been actively participating with followers since Helldivers 2’s launch, has been morose and even a bit poetic because the controversy started. “Waking up to the sunshine of yesterday changed with a dreary drizzle and shivering winds makes me mirror on how I spent my time these uncommon few moments when all was excellent.”
“But rain is crucial to progress and is what modifications spring into summer season. I’ll simply have to watch for sunshine to return.”
Kat Bailey is IGN’s Information Director in addition to co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Ship her a DM at @the_katbot.