[Update 6/5/2024] Sony has heard the outcry, and will not be moving forward with the 6 May update. This means Helldivers 2 is available on PC in all countries, and there’s no need to link your PSN account. The original story can be read below.

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.

We’re still…

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) May 6, 2024

Original story:

While Helldivers 2 is the most popular PvE online game right now, that all changed overnight due to a recent change.

Said change? Helldivers 2 requires you to link your PlayStation account. Starting 6 May, players need to link their Steam account to PlayStation Network, with the requirement being rolled out bit by bit. By 4 June, the registration is mandatory. Sony said this move is done to protect players from griefing.

“Due to technical issues at the launch of HELLDIVERS™ 2, we allowed the linking requirements for Steam accounts to a PlayStation Network account to be temporarily optional. That grace period will now expire. See details below in this post.

Account linking plays a critical role in protecting our players and upholding the values of safety and security provided on PlayStation and PlayStation Studios games. This is our main way to protect players from griefing and abuse by enabling the banning of players that engage in that type of behaviour. It also allows those players that have been banned the right to appeal.

As such, as of May 6th, all new HELLDIVERS 2 players on Steam will be required to connect their Steam account to a PlayStation Network account. Current players on Steam will start to see the mandatory login from May 30th and will be required to have linked a Steam and PlayStation Network account by June 4th. PlayStation Network accounts are free and easy to set up using this link
https://www.playstation.com/support/account/create-account-for-psn/“

As a result, Helldivers 2 received over 100,000 negative reviews (20k previously) as of now due to the update (via SteamDB) as well as getting a Mixed review aggregate on the “Recent” tab. This is most likely due to region locks being possible. PSN serves 69 countries, so those playing Helldivers 2 outside of those countries (which is a lot of them) will not be able to carry on with their progress, or even play the game at all.

Helldivers 2 received over 14,000 negative reviews today due to an update that will require PSN accounts next week.

In case you missed it, SteamDB now has daily reviews on the charts page. pic.twitter.com/qRzeZjcLWy

— SteamDB (@SteamDB) May 3, 2024

[UPDATE 5/5/2024] As of this writing, the game is now unavailable to purchase on Steam in a lot of countries due to the PSN login requirement, unless you’re one of the 69 countries listed for PSN. Steam is approving refund requests for players even if they’ve played the game over 2 hours. Meanwhile, community managers are encouraging gamers to share thoughts in user reviews to pressure Sony.

At the very least, developer Arrowhead is acknowledging the issue and the response. CEO Johan Pilestedt said the following:

“I understand that linking accounts and signing up for additional services may not be something that some users would like to do and that needs to be respected. While the Steam page has always shown the requirements on the game page, I wish we had been more clear with the long term intent to not disappoint any of the divers out there.”

Ouch, right in the review score ??

Well, I guess it's warranted. Sorry everyone for how this all transpired. I hope we will make it up and regain the trust by providing a continued great game experience.

I just want to make great games! pic.twitter.com/EPO7apDUlc

— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 3, 2024

[UPDATE 5/5/2024] Arrowhead is talking solutions with PlayStation especially with non-PSN-supporting countries. Pilestedt also said that it was his decision to disable account linking at launch, but did not ensure players were aware of the requirement and didn’t stress it enough.

” I am not blameless in all of this – it was my decision to disable account linking at launch so that players could play the game. I did not ensure players were aware of the requirement and we didn’t talk about it enough. We knew for about 6 months before launch that it would be mandatory for online PS titles.”

Is this the moment to tweet "What? You guys don't have phones?" ???

On serious note: We are talking solutions with PlayStation, especially for non-PSN countries. Your voice has been heard, and I am doing everything I can to speak for the community – but I don't have the final…

— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 5, 2024

Whose Fault Is It?

There are many factors at play here but a bulk of it lies on Sony for trying to integrate Helldivers 2 users into the PlayStation ecosystem while blatantly spinning it as a security measure issue, and Arrowhead who failed to read the room and anticipate what negative reaction this move will bring. Perplexing surely considering they haven’t dropped a beat when it comes to effective communications with their community despite the rough launch of Helldivers 2.

A quick workaround for those affected would be to create a new PlayStation Network account and fill up their country as one of the 69 it supports. A tried and tested move which helped many access US-locked games in the first place, only time will tell whether this hotfix will too, be nerfed like that sweet, sweet Rail Gun at launch.