Sony Interactive Entertainment, the publisher behind Helldivers 2, has made a controversial decision that has left many fans frustrated. Despite fixing technical issues, they’ve announced a new requirement for PC players. Now, to access the game, players must link their Steam account to a PlayStation Network account. This move has drawn criticism and risks tarnishing the reputation of this beloved democracy-spreading simulator.
Sony Interactive Entertainment recently announced a significant change to the terms of service for Helldivers 2 via posts on the game’s official Steam and Twitter pages on May 2nd. In the statement, they addressed players directly, explaining that technical issues at launch led them to initially make linking Steam accounts to PlayStation Network accounts optional. However, they declared that this grace period will soon come to an end.
The publisher defended their decision by emphasizing the importance of account linking in safeguarding players and maintaining safety and security standards across PlayStation and PlayStation Studios games. They argued that this measure is crucial in combating griefing and abuse, as it enables the banning of players who engage in such behaviour and provides banned players with the opportunity to appeal.
Closing their message, Sony Interactive Entertainment informed players about the gradual rollout of the account linking requirement over the next four weeks. They specified that starting May 6th, all new Helldivers 2 players on Steam must connect their Steam account to a PlayStation Network account. For current Steam players, the mandatory login process will begin on May 30th, with the requirement to link both accounts by June 4th.
Acknowledging potential inconvenience, SIE expressed confidence that this step would contribute to building a community of which players can be proud. They concluded their statement by expressing gratitude for players’ ongoing support of Helldivers 2.
While some may question why PC-based Helldivers players are upset – after all, creating a PlayStation Network account is free – the issue with Sony Interactive Entertainment’s new requirement isn’t about cost but about convenience.
When a company introduces more hurdles for customers to enjoy their product, it decreases the likelihood of engagement. This mandatory account linking doesn’t benefit players seeking convenience or Arrowhead Games, which may suffer a minor reputational hit. Instead, it primarily benefits Sony, potentially boosting engagement and revenue for the PSN ecosystem with an influx of new users.
Adding insult to injury, it’s worth noting that despite mandating players to link their Steam and PSN accounts, Arrowhead Games has not announced any plans to introduce cross-account progression into the title as of now.
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