It’s not looking good for Helldivers 2 Steam page, after a mass of negative reviews hit following a controversy regarding the game’s online functionality. It was announced earlier today that all Helldivers 2 players would need to link their Steam and PlayStation Network accounts to continue to access the game. This change is taken into affect as of May 6 for new players, and June 4 for existing players.
This sudden change has upset many Helldivers 2 fans, and has resulted in the recent review score to plummet to ‘Mixed’ on the official Steam store page. The outrage around this change revolves around several core factors, such as the unavailability of PlayStation Network in some regions, Sony’s past security breaches that resulted in data leaks, and the feeling of encroachment by console giants into the PC space.
Previously, Helldivers 2 players needed only a Steam account to play the game, which Arrowhead Studios refers to as a “technical issue” from the launch of the game. Now that the grace period is over, the developer claims this change will help “to continue to build a community that you are all proud to be a part of.” It’s unclear as of yet how exactly the addition of PlayStation Network accounts will affect the game, but fans fear this is the start of a slippery slope into a worse experience, especially when Sony’s past data breaches seem to contradict the position that this move will make the game more secure.
Exactly what impact this change will have on the game, and whether it could be walked back, remains to be seen. The game is published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, but its developers at Arrowhead Game Studios are still an independent company. Let us know your thoughts on this controversial change below, and stay tuned to GameLuster for more breaking gaming news updates like this.
