Why Helldivers 2 Delisted in 177 Countries in a Matter of Days?

Sony’s PSN account requirement has backfired spectacularly, causing widespread anger and threatening Helldivers 2’s success.

Helldivers 2, a much-anticipated co-op shooter, is now embroiled in debate and could fail just a few weeks after it came out. This turn of events should be seen as a warning because it shows how seemingly small choices can cause big problems and even kill the popularity of a game. We still don’t know if Helldivers 2 can get over this bad press. This is how the situation stands:

Why was Helldivers 2 Delisted?

• PSN Account Requirement Sparks Outrage: The primary issue lies in Sony’s recent mandate requiring all Steam players of Helldivers 2 to link a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to play the game starting June 4th. This decision has sparked massive backlash from the community.
• Privacy Concerns and Regional Restrictions: Players are hesitant to share personal information by linking their PSN accounts, especially after a contradictory statement from Sony seemingly advising users to bypass region restrictions, violating their own terms of service. Additionally, those in countries without PSN access worry about being excluded entirely.
• Review Bombing and Delisting: The discontent has manifested in mass review bombing, plummeting Helldivers 2’s Steam score. Furthermore, the game has been delisted from 177 territories on Steam, making it unavailable for purchase in those regions. It’s unclear whether this was initiated by Arrowhead, the developer, or Sony.
• Refunds Beyond Policy: Steam seems to be deviating from its usual refund policy, granting refunds for Helldivers 2 purchases even beyond the typical 2-hour playtime limit. This suggests Valve acknowledging the exceptional circumstances surrounding the situation.

A Developer in Limbo:

Arrowhead, the company that made Helldivers 2, seems to be in the middle of everything. CEO Johan Pilestedt has acknowledged the worries, but when asked what would happen to players in countries that don’t have access to PSN, he said, “I don’t know.” This is a worrying answer. The community is even more angry about this lack of direction.

What is The Future of Helldivers 2?

With over 230,000 bad reviews and the game being taken off the market in many places, people’s original positive feelings about Helldivers 2 have quickly faded. Things might get better before the deadline on June 4, but the way things are going now, the future of the game doesn’t look good.

Key Takeaways:

• Sony’s PSN account requirement has backfired spectacularly, causing widespread anger and threatening Helldivers 2’s success.
• Arrowhead’s unclear stance and the lack of a definitive solution add to the player dissatisfaction.
• Steam’s seemingly flexible refund policy in this case highlights the exceptional nature of the controversy.

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