Playstation To Reverse Course on Helldivers 2 PSN Linking Requirements
By AJ Hanson on 06/05/2024 16:03 UTC
In a rare move, Sony Interactive Entertainment has decided to reverse course on their previously announced mandate for Helldivers 2 that would have required all players to link their in-game account to a PSN account after weekend long backlash of not only Helldivers 2, but other Sony titles released on Steam as well.
Helldivers fans -- we’ve heard your feedback on the Helldivers 2 account linking update. The May 6 update, which would have required Steam and PlayStation Network account linking for new players and for current players beginning May 30, will not be moving forward.
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) May 6, 2024
We’re still…
"We’re still learning what is best for PC players and your feedback has been invaluable. Thanks again for your continued support of Helldivers 2 and we’ll keep you updated on future plans." Playstation wrote on its official X (formerly Twitter) account early Monday morning.
While Helldivers 2 players on Steam will no longer have to link a PSN account in order to play, it has left a sour taste in the mouth of many who are said to be more untrusting of Sony moving forward. Popular live-streamer and game developer PirateSoftware put it best when he said the following:
While this is a victory for the players you've left a lasting stain on your brand as a publisher. Many people have very little reason to trust Sony going forward.
— Pirate Software (@PirateSoftware) May 6, 2024
Moving the business before you understand the playerbase is never the right choice.
That being said, the blame is not entirely on Sony and Playstation, as Arrowhead Games CEO Pilestedt was as vocal as ever on X (formerly Twitter) over the weekend, admitting that he and the developers were not blameless in this issue:
I do have a part to play. I am not blameless in all of this - it was my decision to disable account linking at launch so that players could play the game. I did not ensure players were aware of the requirement and we didn't talk about it enough.
— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 5, 2024
We knew for about 6 months before…
"I did not ensure players were aware of the requirement and we didn't talk about it enough…We knew for about 6 months before launch that it would be mandatory for online PS titles." Pilestedt continued.
This major victory for Helldivers fans has left fans of other Sony titles wondering if it will have any impact on future titles being released on Steam, with speculation running rampant on social media.
For the time being though, it seems as if the focus can re-shift onto Helldivers 2 continuing to be one of the best gaming stories of 2024, thanks in no small part to its unique live service storytelling mechanics. Helldivers 2 has been incredibly popular, selling well over 8 million copies across all platforms since launch.