Highlights

  • Arrowhead is in discussions with Sony over how to handle the ongoing Helldivers 2 PSN account linking controversy.
  • The final decision on the matter is up to Sony.
  • Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt admitted to shouldering some of the blame for the situation.

Arrowhead is currently in discussions with Sony over how to deal with the ongoing controversy surrounding the retroactive enforcement of the PSN account requirement for playing Helldivers 2 on PC, a senior company official has revealed. This community update also offered some additional insights into the ongoing Helldivers 2 drama.

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Steam is Refunding Helldivers 2 Players Even if They Have More Than 2 Hours of Playtime

Amid backlash, Steam grants Helldivers 2 refunds surpassing 2-hour limit, signaling significant discontent with PSN account linking mandate.

The PlayStation-published live-service shooter was released in early February for the PS5 and PC. Its Steam version was initially sold internationally, offering an optional ability to link the game with one's PlayStation Network account. But that was never an option for many, as Sony only offers PSN in 73 out of the 195 countries across the world. While it's technically possible to create an account for a supported region from anywhere on the planet, even without a VPN, doing so is against Sony's terms of service and grounds for a ban. But the upcoming Helldivers 2 update that's set to roll out on May 6 will make PSN account linking mandatory, the publisher said on May 3, inciting widespread backlash from the fandom.

Helldivers 2 Dev 'Talking Solutions' to PSN Drama With Sony

Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt initially responded to the Helldivers 2 PSN drama by vowing to "regain the trust" of the community. The vague pledge was met with polarizing reactions from the company's customers. Pilestedt has now once again taken to social media to offer some clarity on the situation, stating that the Swedish studio is currently in the process of "talking solutions with PlayStation." And while the executive assured fans that their "voice has been heard," he noted that he doesn't have "the final say" over how the situation will be handled.

Arrowhead CEO Says He's 'Not Blameless In All of This'

Despite the decision on the solution being out of his hands, Pilestedt conceded that he shoulders some responsibility for the ongoing Helldivers 2 controversy. He hence admitted that it was his decision to make the PSN account linking optional at launch. "I am not blameless in all of this," the executive wrote, noting Arrowhead was aware of the PSN requirement being mandatory around half a year ahead of the game's release.

The May 3 Steam post announcing the controversial update cited "technical issues at launch" as the main reason for making the PSN account requirement optional. The post did not characterize this "grace period" as Arrowhead's decision. The PSN FAQ previously described account linking as optional for playing PlayStation games on PC, but was updated to insist that it's mandatory following the controversial announcement.

Many fans have so far objected to Helldivers 2 being sold internationally with full knowledge of this requirement. Pilestedt said that was not his decision in response to one such comment. Around the time the executive was sharing his insights with the community, Sony delisted the Steam version of Helldivers 2 in 177 countries, exacerbating the online backlash even further.