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- The Helldivers 2 developers have confirmed they knew about the PlayStation account requirement six months before launch.
- This was also made clear to everyone on the Steam page from day one.
- The director states he temporarily removed the requirement due to the unexpected influx of players on day one.
Sony has shot itself in the foot, taking down its big live-service golden goose after making a PlayStation account mandatory for Helldivers 2. This has resulted in negative reviews, refunds, and a crumbling reputation within 48 hours.
However, while Sony may be at fault, Arrowhead Game Studios has accepted part of the blame. According to CEO Johan Pilestedt, the team was already aware of this requirement prior to launch.
Why it matters: Many Steam players have been unable to play the co-op shooter after this restriction was implemented because PlayStation is supported in less than 70 countries worldwide.
The CEO recently responded to various social media users after confirming efforts to come to a solution with Sony. When asked about his role in the situation, Johan Pilestedt confirmed that his decision was the reason this requirement was removed to begin with.
Over on the Steam store page, Helldivers 2 has always warned PC gamers about the need for a PlayStation account. However, since this co-op shooter experienced a surge of players that nobody saw coming, the requirement was lifted for the initial months.
He then elaborated that Sony had already informed developers about this policy six months before launch. This also confirms that every subsequent live-service release will require a PlayStation account.
We knew 6 months before launch that it would be mandatory for online PS titles.
-Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt
This begs the question of why the team decided to go ahead and sell Helldivers 2 in unsupported regions if this would always be the case.
The CEO’s revelation has prompted similar responses from users, who this decision has dumbfounded. However, he asserted that the final call was Sony’s to make. As Johan Pilestedt put it, selling the game was not up to Arrowhead Game Studios.
Still, the team could have raised its voice against Sony, holding similar discussions before launch to avoid such a scenario.
This situation can only be described as unfortunate. Between an angry fandom and stubborn Sony, Arrowhead Game Studios seems to have caught the brunt of the backlash.
To the studio’s credit, it has stood by the community and continues to respond in what must be the most difficult time for this team.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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