Tech

Sony Withdraws PSN Requirement for Helldivers 2 After Massive Protests

by time news

2024-05-06 07:34:00

An unprecedented wave of protests has ensured that Sony is withdrawing the announced PSN requirement for Helldivers 2.

An unpleasant development for the Helldivers 2 community has a positive end: After an unprecedented wave of protests and media pressure, Sony is withdrawing the announced PSN account requirement for PC gamers.

Sony is humbled

Briefly about the history of the case: Sony announced at the end of last week that a PSN account was also mandatory for PC players of Helldivers 2 from the end of May. This obligation was already on the Steam website from the start, but has not actually been implemented since the release at the beginning of February. From May 3rd then began massive review bombing on Steam, because PSN is not available in over 170 countries. In other words, existing buyers from these regions would have been left out in the cold. Sony and Valve took Helldivers 2 out of sale in these countries, and Sony was then caught secretly changing FAQ pages on the topic. In total there were over until yesterday 200,000 negative ratings on Steam.

This loud voice of the community did not go unheard at Sony; the developer Arrowhead, who was anything but happy with the subsequent PSN requirement, must have made sure of this. Followed today a statement from Sony, which withdraws the announced PSN requirement. Here is the translated wording of the statement:

“Helldivers fans – we’ve heard your feedback on the Helldivers 2 account linking update. The May 6th update that required linking of Steam and PlayStation Network accounts for new players and for current players starting May 30th would have, will not be carried out.

We’re still figuring out what’s best for PC gamers, and your feedback has been invaluable. Thank you again for your continued support of Helldivers 2 and we will keep you updated on future plans.”

It is still unclear how sales will continue in countries without PSN. It is also unclear how Sony will continue with the issue of PSN account linking on the PC in the future. Sony has not changed the passage that some games require a PSN account. On the German FAQ page there is still talk of “optional registration” with PSN. Now there is Aspirations of the Helldivers 2 communityto “reverse” the negative ratings on Steam.

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