PlayStation has reversed course on the Helldivers 2 PSN account requirement, strolling again the unpopular coverage after a weekend lengthy backlash that included tens of 1000’s of unfavourable evaluations, a few of which unfold to Sony’s different Steam video games.
Helldivers followers — we’ve heard your suggestions on the Helldivers 2 account linking replace. The Might 6 replace, which might have required Steam and PlayStation Community account linking for brand new gamers and for present gamers starting Might 30, won’t be transferring ahead.
We’re nonetheless…
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) May 6, 2024
“Helldivers followers — we’ve heard your suggestions on the Helldivers 2 account linking replace. The Might 6 replace, which might have required Steam and PlayStation Community account linking for brand new gamers and for present gamers starting Might 30, won’t be transferring ahead,” PlayStation wrote on its official account.
“We’re nonetheless studying what’s greatest for PC gamers and your suggestions has been invaluable. Thanks once more to your continued assist of Helldivers 2 and we’ll hold you up to date on future plans.”
PlayStation’s choice signifies that Helldivers 2 gamers on Steam will not should hyperlink a PSN account with the intention to play. The unpopular coverage, which might have seen new gamers confronted with a compulsory login starting this week, resulted in Helldivers 2 being delisted in round 177 international locations. At one level, Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt, clearly pissed off over the controversy, posted, “Waking as much as 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 good.”
Pilestedt mentioned Sunday that Arrowhead was “speaking options” with PlayStation, which apparently led to the choice to not transfer ahead with the coverage. Pilestedt additionally shed extra gentle on the decision-making behind the scenes, admitting that it was his choice to disable account linking at launch in order that gamers may play the sport.
I do have an element to play. I’m not innocent in all of this – it was my choice to disable account linking at launch in order that gamers may play the sport. I didn’t guarantee gamers have been conscious of the requirement and we did not discuss it sufficient.
We knew for about 6 months earlier than…
— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) (*2*)
“I didn’t guarantee gamers have been conscious of the requirement and we did not discuss it sufficient,” he wrote, saying that he was “not innocent” within the countroversy. “We knew for about 6 months earlier than launch that it could be obligatory for on-line PS titles.”
As he has been all through Helldivers 2’s launch, Pilestedt was a vocal presence on social media, at numerous factors apologizing to followers and say he “simply desires to make a superb sport.” Helldivers 2’s latest evaluations on Steam at the moment sit at “Overwhelmingly Adverse,” dropping it to Blended general after a wave of evaluate bombing that included greater than 200,000 unfavourable evaluations.
Following PlayStation’s announcement, followers expressed hope that future video games wouldn’t embody the requirement. Others urged gamers to not take out their anger on Arrowhead.
“They ended up within the crossfire for this and it wasn’t honest to them as they have been doing what they have been contractually obligated to do,” one fan wrote.
PlayStation’s choice signifies that the main target can start to return to the sport itself, which up till now has been one of the crucial widespread video games of 2024 due to its distinctive method to stay service storytelling. Its breakthrough success has led to it promoting an estimated 8 million items as of March 2024.
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.