"Helldivers 2" players make Sony reverse decision account linking requirement

Sony Corporation changed its decision about account linking in the highly-praised cooperative shooting game "Helldivers 2" on Monday in response to strong user feedback from throughout the globe.

In an attempt to enable cross-platform play between PC and PlayStation users, Sony said last Friday that it will need PC players of "Helldivers 2" to link their Steam accounts with the PlayStation Network. This announcement sparked a firestorm of anger. However, the gaming community quickly objected to this choice.

In response to the uproar, Sony addressed the fan concerns via its PlayStation X account. The corporation announced, "Helldivers fans -- we've heard your feedback on the Helldivers 2 account linking update," indicating a change in strategy.

An upgrade that would have required current users to connect their accounts has been canceled, as has the obligatory account linking update that was supposed to go out on May 6.

As seen by the SteamDB database, this decision essentially brings back player choice, especially for those who reside in 177 countries where creating a PlayStation Network account is not possible.

There was a noticeable outcry from the gaming world when well-known content producer Zanny expressed his disappointment at being unable to access his primary account because of regional restrictions.

Supporters expressed their displeasure via a variety of platforms, which culminated in a flurry of 200,000 unfavorable reviews on Steam in only three days, severely lowering the game's rating and forcing Sony to reconsider its approach.

Sony underlined its dedication to improving the PC gaming experience while acknowledging the important input from players. The business said through the PlayStation X account, "We're still learning what is best for PC players, and your feedback has been invaluable."

Since its debut in February, "Helldivers 2," which was created by the Swedish company Arrowhead and distributed by Sony, has been incredibly popular. It has received praise for its exhilarating gameplay, which is reminiscent of the cult classic movie "Starship Troopers."

According to market research firm Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, the game has become Sony's eighth highest-grossing title, with a large portion of its success coming from PC purchases.

According to estimates provided by TD Cowen analyst Doug Creutz, "Helldivers 2" had sold almost 8 million copies by the middle of March, demonstrating the game's immense popularity among players all over the world.

The CEO of Arrowhead, Johan Pilestedt, praised the gamers of "Helldivers" for their tenacity and thanked PlayStation for responding to community concerns so quickly. The aim to emphasize player choice and improve the overall game experience is reflected in the decision to make PSN connectivity optional. 

Source: AFP