'Helldivers 2' Devs Find Themselves In Fifth Circle Of Hell With Policy Update

Video Games

May 6

2024 started with storm clouds hanging over the video game industry after 2023 ended with a year of layoffs, but so far, the new year has seen massive success not from the AAA studios, but rather the smaller ones. Games like Helldivers 2, costing only $40, has been wildly popular despite being rather buggy in the early months.

That popularity seems to have waned though, as news of a policy update from Sony finally coming into effect has set off a wave of anger and consternation for the PC players that will be affected.

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The policy in question here was originally going to be implemented on launch, but due to the server clog they did not anticipate, Sony has delayed the roll out of this policy. It requires all PC Helldivers 2 players to make PSN accounts in order to keep playing the game. While PSN accounts are free to make, the anger coming from fans is palpable. Sony responded claiming that the measure allows them to protect players, and also affords players the ability to ban griefers, as well as to appeal bans. It caught the attention of the developers, Arrowhead, as well, prompting posts on X from the CEO apologizing to fans, and informing fans that they are in fact in talks with Sony about the issue.

Consequences, however, have already taken hold. The reviews on Steam, which before were overwhelmingly positive, have tanked to a mixed rating due to nearly 84,000 negative reviews on the game since the announcement. While that hurts the developer more than the publisher, Sony, it’s still a strong enough reaction that it could force Sony to reconsider their decision.

All current PC users of the game will need to create and link their PSN account with their Steam account by June 4.

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