Sony Forces All Helldivers 2 Steam Players to Link to a PSN Account

Arrowhead Game Studios released Helldivers 2 two months ago and has maintained a decent player count since. With the constant updates, patches, and new content, the developers have held our attention. Their playful and intelligent way of communicating with their fanbase has added a sense of immersion that is rare to see in the gaming industry nowadays. 

Just when fans thought everything was going well, Sony announced that all Steam players have until June 4 to link to a PlayStation Network account. When Helldivers 2 first came out, we were asked to do this but due to technical issues on their part, we were told it was optional. Now they have solved their problems, Sony has decided it is time we all join the PSN. 

Why All Helldivers 2 Steam Players Must Link to PSN Accounts?

This announcement went out on X and Steam. Sony says it is mandatory and account linking plays a critical role in protecting their players and upholding the values of PlayStation. 

Attention Helldivers,

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.

-Sony Interactive Entertainment

While account linking across platforms is not a new element in modern gaming, people are taken aback by the fact it is mandatory. Sony claims their reason for pushing this on us is safety and security. Their systems will help keep track of players griefing and abusing others. It will enable banning people who choose to indulge in harmful behavior and give them 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/

We understand that while this may be an inconvenience to some of you, this step will help us to continue to build a community that you are all proud to be a part of.

Many thanks for your continued support of HELLDIVERS 2!

-Sony Interactive Entertainment

It seems that Sony and Helldivers 2 were expecting some negativity from the fans. They were definitely correct because we have already seen backlash to this announcement. 

It also became apparent that Sony and Arrowhead are not completely on the same page when it comes to this new demand. Even though both companies knew that it would happen eventually, it seems Arrowhead wasn't aware that Sony intended to drop this news quite yet. Arrowhead's Community Manager, Twinbeard, commented on Discord shortly after the announcement. 

The statement wasn't ours and that piece of important information was missing. As soon as we saw that we asked for more info and updates on some details for the linking. 

-Twinbeard

Fans are getting the feeling that Helldivers 2's right hand doesn't know what the left is doing and it's not filling players with confidence. Twinbeard added later that they cannot comment too much right now and are waiting for more information from Sony. 

Helldivers 2: Players' Responses to Mandatory Account Linking

We cannot be sure what Sony's intentions were with this news but it is already having major backlash from fans. We understand that it could be paving the way for a cross-platform save system but PC gamers who do not have or do not wish to obtain a PlayStation are outraged that they must hand over their data to Sony. 

What about the players who live in countries that can't have PSN? That's ok to just lock people out of a game they paid for? And if this was always going to be the case then why sell the game in those countries?

-Neon_Ether on Reddit

This Reddit user has a great point. PlayStation Network is not available in all countries so this will essentially lock people out of Heldivers 2 even if they have already bought it and have been playing it for two months. There have already been players calling for a refund. 

I bought this game on steam with the intention of playing it on steam.
I do not now nor will I ever have a playstation account.

Forcing players to link or be banned from the game months after launch is unacceptable.
I would refund this if I had the opportunity to do so.

-Pirate Software Recent Steam Review

Even some PC gamers who can create PSN accounts are refusing to do so. This announcement has instantly turned fans of Helldivers 2 away from the game and the amount of negative reviews on Steam has increased drastically since the news. 

The Game is Phenomenal. So why the negative review?

Well, I've played for 80 hours and they have just announced that they are going to take away access to the game for anyone without a linked PS account.

It was apparently temporarily disabled, allowing us to build up play time past the refund period.

Its the beginnings of predatory practices, and I am willing to completely change the review back to positive if they reverse the decision to ban me from the game I bought for not having a PS account.

-EagleEye Steam Review

We will have to keep an eye on what Arrowhead and Sony say next because if they make the wrong decision going forward, they could lose a large portion of their players. Nobody on Earth likes to be forced into anything and waiting until the available refund period has elapsed before dropping this news is causing some gamers to question their motives. 

That's everything we know so far about the account linking announcement for Helldivers 2. We can only hope that Sony and Arrowhead see how undemocratic they are being with this demand. It's time to take out our anger on the Terminids and Automatons while we have the chance.