Breakdown
- Helldivers 2 has canceled its PSN linking plans
- PlayStation has thanked fans for their feedback and are still learning about PC gaming
- The game still hasn't returned in other countries
Sony has canceled its plans to force PSN linking for Helldivers 2 on Steam, meaning fans will be able to play the shooter without making a new account. This is in response to the game getting review bombed and refunds after Sony forced the account integration, showing what proactive critiquing can do.
PlayStation’s official Twitter account confirmed that the PSN linking they wanted to mandate won’t be moving forward after fans responded. Aside from thanking players for their feedback, the account also stated that PlayStation is still learning about what’s best for PC players.
It’s worth noting that Helldivers 2 still isn’t available in over 100 countries, due to the previous mandate that Sony demanded from players. Hopefully, this will be patched up and gamers all over the world will be able to play it again, but nothing official has been announced.
When Sony originally announced this decision, fans were immediately angry over the move, as making a new account just to play a game is pretty inconvenient. There’s also the fact that some countries don’t have access to the PlayStation Network, with countries like the Philippines needing to make accounts for Singapore or the United States.
Arrowhead Game Studios profusely apologized to players for the move, as the PSN linking was outside of their control and they didn’t want this to happen. The devs even encouraged their fans to boycott Helldivers 2 and ask for refunds, which seemed to be the deciding factor for Sony changing their minds.
Knowing how corporations think, this could be temporary and Sony could try to implement PSN linking again in the future. Hopefully, they can do it in a way that doesn’t force players to make an account, instead giving willing players extra loot to do it as an option. Forcing that kind of integration just isn’t good, especially since not everyone in the world can make a PSN account.
Helldivers 2 is currently available on PS5 and PC.
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