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Helldivers 2

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Contents6
  1. Consumer impact summary
  2. Incidents
  3. PSN account requirement
  4. nProtect GameGuard requirement
  5. See also
  6. References

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Helldivers 2
Basic Information
Release Year 2024
Product Type Video Games,
In Production Yes
Official Website https://www.arrowheadgamestudios.com/

Helldivers 2 is a third-person cooperative shooter game for PlayStation 5 and Windows, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and released by Sony Interactive Entertainment in 2024.

Consumer impact summary

Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of the product (if applicable):

  • User Freedom
  • User Privacy
  • Business Model
  • Market Control

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.


Incidents

This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the Helldivers 2 category.

PSN account requirement

On release, Helldivers 2 did not force PC players to log into a PlayStation Network (PSN) account; this enabled players to avoid the integration. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), however, on May 3, 2024, revealed that the PC version of Helldivers 2 on Steam would be requiring PSN account log-ins in the near future. This would be effective for new users starting from May 6, 2024, and current users would need to adhere by June 4, 2024.[1]

SIE defended the decision by saying that a PSN login was required to "uphold the values of safety and security provided on PlayStation and PlayStation Studios games." They also added that the requirement was not applied at launch for technical reasons.[1]

The announcement resulted in global outcry.[2] Players were upset because Sony had previously stated that PSN accounts were optional for PC games, but later changed this to a vague 'some games' after Johan Pilestedt, CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios, asked players to contact Sony support.[3][4][5]

On 4 May, the Steam store page was modified to prohibit sales in 177 countries where PSN is not available, further adding to the anger.[6]

Pilestedt apologized for the surprise change, tweeting:[7][8]

I hope we will make it up and regain the trust by providing a continued great game experience. I just want to make great games!

Arrowhead developers were found to be backing the players, with one community manager going so far as to ask the player base to leave a negative review on Steam.[9] This led to a review bombing campaign, where almost 53% of all reviews had been negative by May 4,[10] with more than 84,000 negative reviews on Steam.[11]

Reacting to the outrage, on May 5, 2024, Sony announced that it would not pursue the linking requirement for PSN accounts. The firm promised it would collaborate with Arrowhead in developing other mechanisms of safeguarding players.[12][13]

nProtect GameGuard requirement

This game requires the kernel level anti-cheat nProtect GameGuard

See also

Link to relevant theme articles or companies with similar incidents.

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References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kennedy, Victoria (3 May 2024). "Helldivers 2 Steam players will soon need to link a PSN account, and they aren't happy". EuroGamer. Archived from the original on 2025-07-08. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  2. ↑ Middler, Jordan (5 May 2024). "Helldivers 2 backlash continues as Sony pulls the game from over 150 regions". VideogamesChronicle. Archived from the original on 2025-11-25. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  3. ↑ @Helldiversmedia (4 May 2024). "SONY got caught changing their own words. Accounts were OPTIONAL like the first picture, Sony comes in says its required today, and changes their wording on PSN PC games. #Helldivers2 #Steam". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 24 Aug 2025. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  4. ↑ Blake, Vikki (5 May 2024). "Helldivers 2 has been pulled from sale in 177 countries as its PSN linking requirement rolls out". EuroGamer. Archived from the original on 2025-11-22. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  5. ↑ @Pilestedt (3 May 2024). "Post regarding account linking". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 21 Mar 2026. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025. Hey everyone, in regards to account linking and questions thereto. Please reference https:// playstation.com/en-us/support/games/psn-sign-in-pc/ - if you have any further questions you can reach out using the "Contact PlayStation Support" at the bottom of the page.
  6. ↑ SteamDB info (Archived)
  7. ↑ @Pilestedt (3 May 2024). "Post regarding review score drop". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 21 Mar 2026. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025. Ouch, right in the review score 😢🤕 Well, I guess it's warranted. Sorry everyone for how this all transpired. I hope we will make it up and regain the trust by providing a continued great game experience. I just want to make great games!
  8. ↑ Colbert, Isaiah (4 May 2024). "Arrowhead CEO Apologizes As Helldivers 2 Is Review Bombed on Steam: 'I Just Want to Make Great Games'". IGN. Archived from the original on 2025-11-23. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  9. ↑ Tassi, Paul (4 May 2025). "Arrowhead Tells 'Helldivers 2' Players To Change Reviews To Negative Over PSN Linking". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2025-07-08. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  10. ↑ Purdy, Kevin (4 May 2024). "Sony demands PSN accounts for Helldivers 2 PC players, and it's not going well". ArsTechnica. Archived from the original on 2025-12-01. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  11. ↑ SteamDB charts (Archived)
  12. ↑ Kennedy, Victoria (6 May 2024). "Sony overturns Helldivers 2 PSN requirement following backlash". EuroGamer. Archived from the original on 2026-01-05. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  13. ↑ Account link requirements update (Archived)
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