Helldivers 2: Sony Backtrack on Forced PSN Integration

Helldivers 2 launched to incredible reviews and, despite minor server-overload issues at launch, rapidly became the newest darling of the multiplayer shooter community. Then disaster struck, earning Helldivers 2 an avalanche of negative reviews.

Helldivers 2 and Sony Drama Explained

Months after Helldivers 2's launch, Sony declared that all Helldivers players must create a PSN account in order to continue playing the game. No big deal, right? However, things got ugly fast when players realized that PSN is not supported in nearly 200 countries worldwide, including Belarus, Japan, most of the African continent, and more.

The result? Thousands of negative reviews from Helldivers 2 players on the Steam platform, tanking the game's review ratings from extremely positive to 'mixed' in a matter of hours. It seemed the end of Helldivers might have arrived years sooner than anyone could've expected...

Sony Backtrack on Forced PSN Integration with Helldivers 2

It's official as of a post on the verified PlayStation Twitter: Helldivers 2 will no longer require Steam and PlayStation Network account linking.

This is a stupendous victory for gamers everywhere, proving that we do have the power to make positive changes to big titles. Below is the exact quote from PlayStation.

Helldivers fans -- we’ve heard your feedback on the Helldivers 2 account linking update. The May 6 update, which would have required Steam and PlayStation Network account linking for new players and for current players beginning May 30, will not be moving forward.

@PlayStation

This is a massive U-turn, especially given the PSN-Helldivers patch was set to go live today (at the time of writing). PlayStation's post continues:

We’re still learning what is best for PC players and your feedback has been invaluable. Thanks again for your continued support of Helldivers 2 and we’ll keep you updated on future plans.

@PlayStation

In true patriotic Helldivers style, this is a major victory for democracy. That said, will it be enough to reverse the recent negative reviews on Helldivers 2 on Steam? That remains to be seen.

Many users, in the wake of PlayStation's tweet, have been quick to leap to the defense of Helldivers 2's developers, pleading that it's time they were let off the hook for this debacle. Others continue to argue that Arrowhead Studios knew about this planned PSN update all along and that we'd be fools to forget their complicity.

In any case, what happens next remains unclear. Will Helldivers 2's review score on Steam make a speedy recovery? What about the many players who already refunded the game amid the chaos? Will they return after PlayStation's announcement? Only time will tell.