PlayStation has introduced that, after about three days of on-line yelling and reviewing bombing, it’ll now not require Helldivers 2 gamers on PC to hyperlink their Steam account to a PlayStation Community account in an effort to proceed accessing the favored sci-fi co-op shooter.
On Might 2, PlayStation and Arrowhead Video games Studios—the builders behind Helldivers 2—introduced on Steam {that a} so-called “grace interval” was ending and that every one PC gamers would want a PSN account to maintain enjoying one in every of 2024’s finest video video games. Technically, this was at all times the plan as famous on the Helldivers 2 Steam retailer web page. Nonetheless, because of the sport’s messy launch in February, PC gamers had been allowed to play and not using a PSN account. This led to an ungainly scenario on Thursday when Sony introduced all gamers would wish to have a PlayStation account by June 4 to maintain enjoying. Now, following an enormous unfavourable response, PlayStation is backtracking.
In a tweet at midnight on Might 5, PlayStation stated it had heard all of the “suggestions” on linking a Steam and PSN account and determined…nah, by no means thoughts.
“Helldivers followers — we’ve heard your suggestions on the Helldivers 2 account linking replace,” introduced PlayStation. “The Might 6 replace, which might have required Steam and PlayStation Community account linking for brand new gamers and for present gamers starting Might 30, won’t be shifting ahead.”
PlayStation stated it was nonetheless “studying what’s finest for PC gamers” and instructed all of the suggestions the corporate acquired concerning the scenario had been “invaluable.”
“Thanks once more to your continued assist of Helldivers 2 and we’ll hold you up to date on future plans,” concluded PlayStation’s late-night tweet.
This reverse on account linking follows a horrible time for Arrowhead’s devs and neighborhood managers, who had been pressured to handle an enormous digital struggle throughout Twitter, Reddit, and Discord. The CEO of Arrowhead spent a lot of the weekend apologizing on Twitter and speaking to indignant followers.
Folks had been upset that the account linking announcement had come so lengthy after the sport’s launch—even when technically this was at all times the plan. Some questioned why, after months of having the ability to play on-line and use crossplay, they all of a sudden wanted a free PSN account to play Helldivers 2 on Steam. Different gamers had been upset that Helldivers 2 had been offered on Steam in nations that don’t have entry to the PlayStation Community. This specific difficulty was solely partially addressed by Sony in a FAQ posted on-line over the weekend. It additionally led to Helldivers 2 being faraway from sale in some nations on Steam, a change that can possible be reverted quickly.
It appears PlayStation has discovered a worthwhile lesson: Don’t assume each participant is studying all the Steam retailer web page when shopping for a sport, and hold individuals within the loop in your plans which may, in the future, reduce them off from the sport they purchased.
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