The controversy surrounding Helldivers 2 shows no signs of cooling off, with the recent announcement by Sony about the mandatory PlayStation Network account requirement causing a stir among players and developers alike.
Following Arrowhead studio’s declaration of support for players, further developments unfolded during the uproar:
- Helldivers 2 was pulled from Steam in 177 regions where PlayStation Network services are not officially available, including unique territories like Antarctica, Belarus, and various island regions associated with major countries.
- Rumors suggest that Valve, not Sony, removed the game from sale on Steam to avoid potential legal issues. While creating a PSN account for any region seems feasible, bypassing restrictions could lead to a ban from Sony.
- Amidst the community’s outcry, memes have surfaced, and some users claim to have received refunds for Helldivers 2, despite extensive playtime and residing in regions where PSN is accessible. However, refund approvals remain inconsistent, with human interaction in Steam support possibly increasing chances.
- Studio Sucker Punch clarified that a PSN account is only necessary for multiplayer features in the PC version of Ghost of Tsushima, while the single-player campaign remains accessible without linking an account.
- Notably, Sony updated its FAQ section on PC PSN requirements, indicating that some games may necessitate linking to a PSN account, raising concerns about data security in regions with stringent verification processes.
- Arrowhead Studios’ Johan Pilestedt confirmed ongoing discussions with Sony regarding the situation, particularly in regions where PSN is officially unavailable.
- Pilestedt acknowledged that the decision for mandatory accounts originated from Sony, but admitted to prior knowledge six months before release. Despite temporarily disabling the account link requirement, clarity for players on the future need for a PSN account remains unresolved.
Another tweet from Pilestedt:
- PlayStation Network is not supported in my country. What should I do?
– I don’t know.
Helldivers 2 on Steam has seen a significant decline in ratings, with 50% negative reviews overall and 17% in the last 30 days.
SteamDB data reveals a surge of over 260,000 negative reviews following the PSN account requirement reveal, with no positive reviews logged on May 4th and 5th.
Original source: stopgame.ru