It won’t be quiet about Helldivers 2. Due to the upcoming PSN requirement, Steam has now banned the successful shooter in over 100 countries.
Steam has stopped the sale of the mega-hit Helldivers 2 in many countries. This drastic decision is a direct response to Sony’s policy, which requires a mandatory linking of PlayStation Network (PSN) and Steam accounts. As a result, the community reacted and punished the game with thousands of negative reviews on Steam.
This linking, which is technically not feasible in many regions, was activated on May 3rd and led to the blocking of Helldivers 2 in over 100 countries (according to SteamDB). In Germany, the successful shooter is still available on Steam. In some countries, there is also a platform obligation. In Ukraine, players can create a PSN account but need a PS4 or PS5 for it.
After PSN Requirement: Steam Stops Sale of Helldivers 2 in Many Countries
Why a PSN account? It was actually known from the very beginning that registration with PlayStation is required for Helldivers 2 – even for Steam players. This requirement was clearly communicated on the game’s Steam page on release day.
However, this option was suspended due to server issues at the game’s launch. Thus, players who purchased the game on Steam were able to play without a PSN account.
Sony emphasizes in the announcement on Steam that the linking of accounts is a crucial step to ensure the safety of the community. Through this linking, the company can effectively ban players who violate the rules. At the same time, the affected players are given the opportunity to appeal against this ban. This measure aims to help keep the gaming environment safe and prevent issues such as griefing and abuse.
Accusations of Changes to the PSN FAQ in the Room
Players have noticed that Sony made a slight change to the PSN FAQ. In the previous FAQ, Sony apparently stated that it was optional to register with PSN when playing on PC. However, the updated answer states that registration and linking with a PSN account may be required for some PlayStation games.
You can see the post here:
CEO of Helldivers 2 Talks with Sony About Solutions
While the game is developed by Arrowhead Studios, Sony acts as the publisher and is therefore responsible for marketing. The community manager of Helldivers 2, Spitz
, stated that the decision comes from Sony and that as developers they have little influence.
The CEO of the development studio, Johan Pilested, spoke out in a post on X. He writes that they are discussing solutions with PlayStation, especially for countries without PSN availability. He emphasizes that the voice of the community has been heard and he is doing everything he can to speak for them – however, he does not have the final say.
You can see the post here:
Steam Apparently Refunds Affected Players
Affected players can request a refund of the purchase price on Steam, even if they have already played the game for over two hours. Generally, Steam only offers refunds for players who have less than two hours of gameplay in a game. Even players with more than 100 hours of playtime have reportedly successfully received a refund according to XboxDynasty.
When do I have to link my account to be able to play? Starting May 6, new players of Helldivers 2 on Steam will be required to link their Steam account with a PSN account. Players who already own the game must register and link their accounts by May 30 and by June 4.
How Arrowhead and Sony will proceed now remains to be seen.
The community manager of Helldivers 2 has also fueled the atmosphere: Community manager advised angry players to write negative reviews
