Los Angeles, CA – The controversy surrounding Helldivers 2 has escalated to new heights, with the game becoming unavailable on Steam in over 170 countries. The issue arose when Sony announced that all Helldivers 2 PC players would need to link to an active PlayStation Network (PSN) account to continue playing the game, a requirement that was met with backlash from users and led to a barrage of negative reviews.
Despite assurances from a Helldivers 2 community manager that players in countries without PSN coverage could still access the game, it has since been discovered that the game has been pulled from numerous territories lacking PSN coverage. This move has left many global players unable to purchase or play Helldivers 2, raising questions about why the game was initially available in these regions.
Valve, the stewards of Steam, has also been making exceptions to their refund policy by issuing refunds to players who have played the game for more than 100 hours. This deviation from the normal two-hour refund limit comes in response to the unexpected PSN requirement that was implemented months after the game’s launch.
Developers of Helldivers 2 have clarified that the PSN mandate was not their decision but rather came from Sony. In response to the backlash, some players have resorted to shouting toxicity at the developers, while others have called for refunds as a means of sending a message to Sony.
The situation has escalated rapidly in just a few days, with Sony yet to officially respond to the growing backlash. The game, which had become one of Sony’s top sellers thanks to its PC version, now faces significant challenges as players in unsupported regions are left in limbo regarding their ability to continue playing.
In light of this turmoil, players and industry observers are closely watching how Sony and developers respond to the outcry, as the future of Helldivers 2 hangs in the balance amidst the ongoing controversy.