Highlights

  • The developers of Helldivers 2 are discussing the controversial account-linking requirements for Steam players after intense backlash from the community.
  • The uproar led to Sony quietly changing its PSN FAQs, while Arrowhead Game Studios considers alternative solutions to the issue.
  • Players were encouraged by the game's Discord community manager to voice their opinions through negative reviews and refund requests, as doing so gives the developers leverage while negotiating with Sony for a compromise.

Helldivers 2 developers are reportedly holding internal discussions regarding its controversial PlayStation Network account linking requirements for Steam players. The Helldivers 2 community was caught in a fiery meltdown after Arrowhead Game Studios announced plans to enforce its account-linking measures months after the game was released, with players quickly flooding online forums and servers demanding an explanation from both the developers and publisher.

In contrast to the overwhelmingly positive reception it received in the weeks following its February launch, Helldivers 2 has seen unprecedented levels of contempt in recent days from its thousands of players, who were outraged by its plans to begin enforcing a rule stipulating that PC users will be required to link their Steam account to PSN after a month-long grace period. Many fans have protested against this decision, claiming the game's End-User License Agreement for Steam contained no clear mention of a PSN requirement. They additionally pointed out that PSN was only available in 69 countries and that, for players residing outside these territories, simply creating an account is already violating PSN's Terms of Service, which is a bannable offense.

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Related
Sony Makes Change to PSN FAQ Following Helldivers 2 Controversy

Sony quietly changes a question in the PlayStation Network FAQs related to account linking, amid the ongoing Helldivers 2 controversy.

The public backlash was so intense that it inevitably caught the attention of the developers. Spitz, the Helldivers 2 Discord server community manager, posted an update claiming Arrowhead Game Studios was in the process of hosting internal discussions regarding the overwhelmingly negative reception of the Steam and PSN account linking requirement. While Spitz could not reveal specific details regarding the talks, he claimed developers were looking for alternatives, and that notably, if a solution was not found for countries without access to PSN, account linking would at the very least not be made a requirement for players within those regions.

Helldivers 2 Developers are Negotiating With Sony

Spitz additionally clarified that the changes to the account-linking requirements originated from Sony rather than Arrowhead Game Studios and that the developers had no intention of forcing players into breaking PSN's ToS. He also encouraged users to make their opinions heard by posting negative reviews to Helldivers 2's store page and applying for refunds en masse, which Spitz claimed gave the studio a better chance at conducting successful negotiations with Sony.

While Helldivers 2 has reached noteworthy milestones in the time since its release, the recent storm of controversy is a good reminder that hasty decisions can turn public opinion at the drop of a hat even for the most beloved titles. With that said, Helldivers 2 players can at least take heart in knowing that Arrowhead Game Studios heard their voices and are now doing their best to find a palatable compromise.