Sony has managed to completely ruin a huge PlayStation success on Steam. A planned change to the PC success Helldivers 2 was followed by such a huge shitstorm that the PS5 manufacturer now has to backtrack. He shouldn't forget this lesson.
Publisher Sony could actually have sat back and enjoyed the success of Helldivers 2. The co-op shooter is the prime example of a PlayStation success that was also released on Steam at the same time. Now it has Love of PC gamers quickly turns into the opposite. The PS5 manufacturer itself is to blame.
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PlayStation on the wrong track: What happened to Helldivers 2?
It all started with the announcement that Steam players would soon have their accounts need to connect to your PSN accountto continue playing Helldivers 2. This could protect players from griefing and abuse and allow banned players to appeal.
The news was not well received by fans at all. Gamers felt from the subsequent rule change betrayed. Calls for refunds and a flood of negative Steam reviews followed. The shooter can now only boast balanced reviews, while recent reviews have been mostly negative (source: Steam).
The headwind is so strong that Even Sony can't just ignore it. The PS5 manufacturer writes on X (formerly Twitter) that the planned update (and thus the mandatory link to a PSN account) will be canceled. Sony is “still learning what’s best for PC gamers” and appreciates feedback. The chief developer of Helldivers 2 also welcomes this new twist.
Helldivers 2 on Steam: All’s well that ends well?
Sony made the right decision in the end, but the damage is done. The negative Steam reviews for Helldivers 2 are a reminder that PC gamers like PlayStation games, but not necessarily the PlayStation brand.
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Steam is not simply an extension of the PS5, but an independent community with its own wishes. Sony shouldn't forget this in the future.
Check out the trailer for Helldivers 2 here: