Helldivers 2 launched earlier this year to loads of critical and commercial acclaim owing to its simple yet exceedingly fun gameplay loop, fair monetization strategy, constant support and community interaction from developer Arrowhead, and a community that embodied the tenets of teamwork.
It’s not a stretch to say that the game racked up a huge amount of goodwill in the 3 months since it launched, and was projected to remain successful for a long time. However, every bit of that goodwill Arrowhead built up is at risk of collapsing because of a controversial change to the game.
A PSN Account Is Now Required To Play Helldivers 2
The official Helldivers 2 Twitter account announced today that starting May 6, a PlayStation Network (PSN) account will be mandatory to continue playing the game, inciting a flurry of outrage within the playerbase (a majority of which comprises PC players) and raising concerns about unnecessary account management and regional restrictions.
Initially, Helldivers 2 launched without requiring a linked PSN account on PC. However, Arrowhead cites technical issues at launch as the reason for a delayed implementation of this requirement. While some players view linking accounts as a common practice employed by various publishers like Ubisoft and EA, others find it an inconvenience.
Many PC gamers don’t own a PlayStation console or use PSN services, so they don’t see the point in making an account for just one game. But more importantly, there are anxieties surrounding past data security breaches on the platform. UK and Ireland players have it even worse, since they have to submit a phone number, ID, and facial scan to set up a PSN account.
Players In Certain Regions Could Be Permanently Locked Out
Some players, though, can’t set up an account even if they wanted to, as dozens of countries lack official PSN support, and without an announced workaround, these players might be completely locked out of the game. Arrowhead and Sony need to address this issue, else they might just face legal action from players of these regions.
The announcement has resulted in a surge of review bombing on Steam, with over 10,000 negative reviews dropping the game’s ‘Very Positive’ rating. Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt, seemingly dissatisfied with the situation, directed players to PlayStation Support for inquiries.
However, this move did little to quell the uproar, as the linked support page contradicts the mandatory requirement, stating that PSN login for PC games is optional. The Steam page for Helldivers 2, however, always listed a PSN account as a requirement.
The long-term impact of this decision on player population could be disastrous. While some players might shrug it off as a common industry practice, it has the potential to alienate a significant portion of the PC player base, which has been the driving force behind Helldivers 2‘s success.
Whether Arrowhead or Sony will address the concerns and potentially adjust their approach remains to be seen. In the meantime, the controversy surrounding PSN account linkage casts a shadow of uncertainty over what was previously a well-received PC title.
