Around Helldivers 2 it won’t be quiet. Due to the imminent PSN requirement, Steam has now banned the successful shooter in over 100 countries.
Steam has stopped sales of the mega-hit Helldivers 2 in many countries. This drastic decision is a direct response to Sony’s policy requiring mandatory linking of PlayStation Network (PSN) and Steam accounts. The community then reacted and punished the game with thousands of negative reviews on Steam.
This link, which is technically not possible in many regions, was activated on May 3rd and resulted in the banning of Helldivers 2 in over 100 countries (according to SteamDB). In Germany, the successful shooter is still available on Steam. In some countries there is also a platform requirement. In Ukraine, players can create a PSN account, but they need a PS4 or PS5.
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After PSN compulsory: Steam stops sales of Helldivers 2 in many countries
Why a PSN account? It was actually known from the beginning that you had to register for Helldivers 2 on PlayStation – even for Steam players. This requirement was clearly communicated on the game’s Steam page on the day of release.
However, this option was suspended at the start of the game due to server problems. This meant that players who purchased the game on Steam could play without a PSN account.
Sony emphasizes in the announcement on Steam that linking accounts is a crucial step to ensure the safety of the community. This link allows the company to effectively ban players who violate the rules. At the same time, the affected players will be offered the opportunity to appeal against this ban. This measure is intended to help keep the gaming environment safe and prevent problems such as griefing and abuse.
There are allegations of changes to the PSN FAQ
Players have noticed that Sony has made a minor change to the PSN FAQs. In the previous FAQ, Sony apparently stated that it was optional to sign in to PSN when playing on PC. However, the updated answer states that some PlayStation games may require signing in and linking to a PSN account.
You can see the post here:
Helldivers 2 CEO talks to Sony about solutions
While the game is being developed by Arrowhead Studios, Sony acts as publisher and is therefore responsible for marketing. Helldivers 2’s community manager, Spitz, explained that the decision came from Sony and that as a developer they had little influence.
The CEO of the development studio, Johan Pilested, spoke out in a post on X. He writes that they are talking to PlayStation about solutions, especially for countries without PSN capability. He emphasizes that the community’s voice has been heard and that he is doing everything he can to speak for them – but he does not have the last word.
You can see the post here:
Steam is apparently refunding affected players
Affected players can request a refund of the purchase price on Steam, even if they have already played the game for over two hours. Typically, Steam only offers refunds for players who have less than two hours of gameplay in a game. Even players with more than 100 hours of play have already successfully received a refund, according to XboxDynasty.
When do I need to connect my account to play? Starting May 6th, new Helldivers 2 players on Steam will be required to link their Steam account to a PSN account. Players who already own the game must register starting May 30th and link their accounts by June 4th.
How Arrowhead and Sony will proceed next remains to be seen.
The community manager of Helldivers 2 also heated up the mood: Community manager advised angry players to write negative reviews