Summary
- 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.
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.
Helldivers 2
- Released
- February 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence. Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter.
URGENT BROADCAST – SUPER EARTH ARMED FORCES
Freedom. Peace. Democracy. Your Super Earth-born rights. The key pillars of our civilization. Of our very existence. But the war rages on. And everything is once again under threat.
Join the greatest military force the galaxy has ever seen and make this a safe and free place to live.
BECOME A LEGEND
You will be assembled into squads of up to four Helldivers and assigned strategic missions. Watch each other’s back – friendly fire is an unfortunate certainty of war, but victory without teamwork is impossible.
LOADOUTS
Rain down freedom from above, sneak through enemy territory, or grit your teeth and charge head-first into the jaws of combat. How you deliver liberty is your choice; you’ll have access to a wide array of explosive firepower, life-saving armor and battle-changing stratagems… the jewel in every Helldiver’s arsenal.
REQUISITION
Super Earth recognises your hard work with valuable Requisition. Use it to access different rewards that benefit you, your squad, your destroyer ship and our overall war effort.
THREATS
Everything on every planet wants you dead. That’s what we’re dealing with. Each enemy has distinct and unpredictable characteristics, tactics, and behavior – but they all fight ferociously and without fear or morality.
THE GALACTIC WAR
Capturing enemy planets, defending against invasions, and completing missions will contribute to our overall effort. This war will be won or lost depending on the actions of everyone involved.
We stand together, or we fall apart.
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Franchise
- Helldivers
- Number of Players
- 1-4 players (online)
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
- Metascore
- 83
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC & PS5
