PC gamers react overwhelmingly with negative reviews

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A massive review bombing for Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 has generated strong reactions mainly because it represents one of the biggest surprise hits of the year, with popularity that endures. Despite its status as a game-service, it is unanimously appreciated for its addictive gameplay and its more than honest economic model. With the exception of some server issues at launch, the game had received nothing but praise from the community. However, on May 3, a turning point took place when the developers announced that it would be necessary to link your Steam account to a PSN account to continue playing, thus causing general discontent.

The move was seen as a betrayal by much of the PC community, who responded by posting an avalanche of negative reviews on Steam. And it's not just a handful of disgruntled people because the numbers are quite impressive. According to SteamDBmore than 62,000 negative reviews were posted on the same day of the announcement.

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At the time of writing these lines (Saturday May 4, 2024), 39,000 more have been added to the counter.

The PC community wants to enjoy Sony games without having to deal with Sony

By bringing its exclusives to PC, Sony has not hidden its ambitions to reach a new audience. Thus, the firm wishes to standardize the user experience by introducing a dedicated interface through which linking a PlayStation Network (PSN) account is necessary, as was announced for the port of Ghost of Tsushima. The latter will notably allow you to obtain PlayStation trophies on the Steam, Epic Games Store or GOG versions.

Helldiverse 2published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, is also affected by this directive. The requirement to have a PlayStation Network account had been mentioned well before the game's release, but due to connection issues, its implementation was delayed. It should be noted that the need to link a third-party account is not a new phenomenon in the video game industry, on PC or elsewhere. While this isn't usually a requirement for single-player games, it is often the case for online multiplayer games.

Recently, PlayStation players had to link a Microsoft account to their PSN account to enjoy Sea of ​​Thieves. On Steam, it is necessary to have a Battle.net account to play online Call of Dutya Bandai Namco account for Elden Ringor an EA Origin account for EA Sports FC 24.

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So, what explains the reluctance of these players to create a PSN account, a process that is free and only takes a few minutes with an email and a password?

What Sony is accused of

First of all, it's important to note that this decision likely came from Sony, and it's pretty sad to penalize Arrowhead when many democracy advocates have been having fun with the game for months. The CEO of Arrowhead also spoke to X on this subject.

Ouch, right in the overall ratings. Well, I guess that's justified. Sorry everyone for how this all went down. I hope we catch up and regain your trust by continuing to provide a great gaming experience. I just want to make good games!

It must be admitted that this decision took on disproportionate proportions and further tarnished the reputation of the PC community, often perceived as quick to complain about little things. However, it must be recognized that Sony is not exempt from all blame in this matter. The manufacturer probably did not expect such success and therefore a proportional backlash for this “postponed until later” decision.

Indeed, bringing back this PSN account obligation several months after the release of the game, when players could enjoy the title without this constraint, is a reflection of poor management. Imposing such a constraint before the game launches is one thing; presenting it along the way is another. Additionally, Sony has quietly changed the conditions in its FAQ dedicated to PC games on its official website the same day as the announcement.

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Another argument raised concerns the fact that PlayStation Network is not available in many countries, particularly in Africa, Eastern Europe and certain Asian countries. The lack of clear solutions for these Steam players (ahead of this announcement) who cannot create a PSN account is a critical point for Sony. Although it is possible to create a PSN account in a country other than your own, this practice carries great risks for users, who can be banned at any time depending on the laws in force.

Finally, a final frequently heard criticism concerns data protection by Sony, which has indeed suffered numerous cyber attacks, including recently at Insomniac Games. However, when it comes to user data, there have been no major incidents since the famous attacks in 2011 and 2014. The argument remains somewhat disingenuous, as any online service is exposed to this type of risk.

Hoping that Sony quickly finds a solution so as not to further compromise one of the games of the year with the best reputation.

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