Sony’s Helldivers 2 fiasco: What is the fuss about?

This year’s best selling video game, Helldivers 2, has gone from being a beloved title to getting review-bombed.

Sony has reversed its decision to require a PSN account for Helldivers 2 Steam users, backtracking on the unpopular policy after significant criticism. 

Tens of thousands of negative reviews played a role in this change, and some of the backlash affected Sony's other Steam games.

Helldivers 2 is a third-person shooter game developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. 

The game, released for PlayStation 5 and Windows on 8 February 2024, has received rave reviews and is one of the best-selling games of 2024. 

It then not only became the year's best-selling game but also built a dedicated fanbase that was impressed by Arrowhead's consistent delivery of new content. 

But then on 3rd May 2024, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced that the PC version of Helldivers 2 on Steam would require users to sign in with a PSN account, starting for new players on 6 May and for existing players by 4 June. 

It was followed by the game’s delisting from Steam platforms in more than 170 countries.

This decision was controversial because the Playstation Network is unavailable in many parts of the world. 

It resulted in online backlash.

Sony Interactive's decision was so controversial that even Johan Pilestedt, the CEO of Arrowhead, expressed his frustration. 

He posted, "Reflecting on how I used my time during those rare perfect moments, as today's sunshine is replaced by a dreary drizzle and shivering winds."

However, after facing three days of intense backlash, Sony changed its stance. 

In a tweet, the company stated that they have listened to the gamers feedback regarding the Helldivers 2 account linking mandate and their update planned for May 6 will no longer be implemented.

Sony continued, "We're still learning what is best for PC players and your feedback has been invaluable. Thanks again for your continued support of Helldivers 2, and we'll keep you updated on future plans."

The recent controversy surrounding its Steam version has potentially damaged the goodwill Arrowhead had built with its community.