The controversy regarding Helldivers 2 PC and PSN Account required to link by May 30 it had reached stratospheric levels between review bombing and moreAnd Sony has officially backtracked on its decision.
Sony announced that the expected PlayStation Network account requirement For Helldivers 2 on all platforms, arriving with an update scheduled for today, May 6, has been officially cancelled.
A full-blown about-face and with its tail between its legs for the multinational which admits the extreme lightness with which had imposed this decisionamong other things in a retroactive manner and not just for new buyers of the game.
Helldivers 2 PC and PSN Account: Sony backtracks and apologizes: the community won – but is the game’s reputation now ruined?
The announcement has arrived via the official PlayStation Twitter –who broke the news a few minutes ago.
In the advert you see above we read: “Helldivers fans — we received your feedback on the Helldivers 2 account linking update. The May 6 update, which would require Steam and PlayStation Network account linking for new and current players starting from May 30th, it will not go ahead. We’re still learning what’s best for PC gamers, and your feedback has been invaluable. Thank you again for your continued support of Helldivers 2, we will keep you updated on future plans.”
Meanwhile, Helldivers 2 has been delisted from Steam in over 170 countries following the PSN controversy. And not only, the game was irreparably ruined in terms of reputation from the review bombing happened in these hours on Steam, with users blinded by anger that they would be posting negative reviews also followed in other Arrowed Games games.
In any case, the community won this time and on Reddit we are celebrating. However, one wonders whether it was really necessary to get to all this.
Arrowed CEO Pilestedt also spoke on the topic, explaining that the account link was already planned before the game’s launch, and that it was his decision to temporarily deactivate it to accommodate more players:
Helldivers 2 PC and PSN: requests for refunds are pouring in: Ghost of Tsushima also backs down, but halfway
Meanwhile, something unprecedented happened on Steam. Following this retroactive policy change by Sony, Valve’s platform accepted a refund request for a user who had played for over 90 hours – we know the limit for request a refund on Steam is to play for up to 2 hours.
The news spread on Reddit and a flood of users rushed to ask for refunds, causing a clear drop in users and image and economic damage to Arrowed Games, which suffered the decision of Sony and PlayStation, even if it studio had sided with the community, ready to deny the obligation to link the account.
A decision that was made regarding Helldivers 2but which as expected will also apply to PlayStation games on PC that would have implemented PlayStation Trophies, as was about to happen for the upcoming Ghost of Tsushimaout as a Director’s Cut on PC this month.
Developer Sucker Punch Productions has announced that a PSN account will not be required to play the single-player mode of the PC version of Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut. However, it will be required to use the PlayStation Overlay and play the online multiplayer mode Legends.
“For full disclosure, a PSN account is required for Legends’ online multiplayer mode and to use the PlayStation overlay. Not required to play single player”
Sucker Punch Productions’ statement follows reactions from PC gamers Helldivers 2 following the announcement that PC gaming will require players to link a PlayStation Network account in the coming days and weeks.
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is out on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on May 16th at the price of 59.99 euros. Will he also be involved in review bombing for the PSN requirement?
