At launch, the game did not require this step.
Tl;dr
- Helldivers 2 players now have to link their account to a PlayStation account.
- This has sparked user frustration, despite Sony’s justification for protecting against bad behavior.
- It has led to negative reviews on Steam and threats of players abandoning the game.
- Sony has pledged to release its titles on PC as quickly as possible.
Helldivers 2 Requires Linking with a PlayStation Account
With the evolving landscape of video game publishers, Helldivers 2 players now face a major change: they are compelled to link their game account to a PlayStation account. This requirement has caused a shockwave in the community, heightening user frustration.
Protection Against Abusive Behaviors?
According to Sony, the publisher of Helldivers 2, this measure was implemented to “protect players from nuisances and abuses by allowing the exclusion of players engaged in such behavior”. The publisher cites the excuse of a few “bad apples.” However, this explanation has struggled to appease the general discontent.
A community manager in the H2 Discord has said this is Sony’s decision and the studio is still waiting on info for people living in regions that don’t support PSN accounts. pic.twitter.com/mWKtzanlBe
— AmericanTruckSongs9 (@ethangach) May 3, 2024
Consequences: Criticisms and Abandonment Threats
Among the reactions are numerous harsh criticisms on the Steam platform, and many players are threatening to permanently abandon the game once linking to a PlayStation account becomes mandatory. Concerns stem not only from the addition of this extra barrier after downloading an 80 GB game but also from the fear that the PlayStation account could be hacked.
Sony’s Gesture of Openness Nonetheless
Nevertheless, Sony is not turning a deaf ear to the complaints of its community. In response to the controversy, the publisher has recently pledged to offer its titles on PC as soon as possible. Helldivers 2 was actually available on day one on both Steam and PlayStation consoles. It remains to be seen if these benefits will offset the discontent sparked by the new account linking requirement.