The recent Helldivers 2 controversy has taken a turn for the worse as the game, which was the year’s best-selling game, is now unavailable on Steam in over 170 countries. The publisher, Sony, made an announcement earlier this week that all PC players of Helldivers 2 would need to link to an active PlayStation Network account or risk losing access to the game. This decision, which was initially an optional feature at launch, has resulted in a flood of negative user reviews for the once-popular shooter.
Despite reassurances from a Helldivers 2 community manager that players in countries without PSN coverage could continue playing the game without any restrictions, the game has now been removed from over 170 territories lacking PSN coverage. This move has left many players wondering about the fate of existing Helldivers 2 owners in unsupported regions. It is unclear whether they will be able to continue playing the game, adding to the frustration and confusion surrounding the situation.
Helldivers 2 is now unavailable for purchase in multiple countries on Steam following the announcement of the mandatory PSN login. Steam has also been accommodating refund requests for players, even if they have played the game for more than 2 hours. This departure from Steam’s refund policy, which typically does not allow refunds after exceeding two hours of gameplay, highlights the severity of the situation and the backlash faced by the game.
The repercussions of these decisions have dealt a significant blow to Helldivers 2, a game that had gained immense popularity on the PC platform. It raises concerns about the initial availability of the game in regions without PSN coverage and the abrupt change in requirements by Sony. Valve, the company overseeing Steam, has also been reportedly processing refunds for long-time players who have invested a substantial amount of time in the game, signaling a departure from their usual refund policy.
A developer of Helldivers 2 clarified that the decision to implement the PSN requirement came from Sony, not from the development team at Arrowhead Studios. In light of the backlash and confusion among players, issuing refunds has emerged as a method to communicate the message effectively without resorting to negative interactions with the developers. Sony, on the other hand, has remained quiet since the announcement, failing to address the escalating backlash within the gaming community.
The Helldivers 2 controversy illustrates the detrimental effects of sudden policy changes and lack of communication between developers, publishers, and players. The unavailability of the game in numerous countries and the subsequent refund approvals on Steam have created a wave of discontent among the gaming community. Moving forward, it is essential for companies to be transparent in their decisions and consider the impact on players before implementing changes that can have far-reaching consequences.
Leave a Reply