Sony Interactive Entertainment is the publisher of Helldivers 2, so it was somewhat expected that the company would tweak the system requirements of the otherwise very successful game (but not in a way that requires a more powerful processor or graphics card).

Sony has announced on Steam that Helldivers 2 will soon require a PlayStation Network account. The last time we heard of such a requirement was for the PC port of Ghost of Tsushima Legends, but that will be released a little later, so it won’t be the first game where a PSN account is NOT optional to link to your Steam account. Sony explained the reasoning:

“Account linking plays a critical role in protecting our players and upholding the values of safety and security in PlayStation and PlayStation Studios games. It is our primary means of protecting players from griefing and abuse by allowing us to ban players who engage in this type of behavior. It also gives players who have been banned the right to appeal. As a result, from May 6th, all new Helldivers 2 players on Steam will be required to link their Steam account to a PlayStation Network account. Current players on Steam will see the mandatory login from May 30th and will need to have a Steam and PlayStation Network account linked by June 4th”.

The company talked about this when they first released the system requirements, so it was kind of a grace period that is essentially over. On May 9, Helldivers 2 will get a premium warband called Polar Patriots. It will include new emotes, AR-61 Tenderizer, SMG-72 Pummeler, PLAS-101 Purifier weapons, G-13 Incendiary Impact, P-113 Verdic secondary weapons, Motivational Shocks utility boosters, CW-36 Winter Warrior, CW-22 Kodiak, CW-4 Arctic Ranger armor, and Dissident’s Nightmare, Pinions of Everlasting Glory, Order of the Venerated Ballot capes.

The need for a PSN account has been met with more than 20,000 (!) negative reviews from Steam users, and as a result, the average new review has dropped to Mixed. Many criticize the fact that Sony only made a PSN account mandatory a few months after launch and that there was no warning. Arrowhead Game Studios CEO Johan Pilestedt responded on Twitter:

“I understand that linking accounts and signing up for additional services may not be something some users want to do, and that needs to be respected. While the Steam page has always displayed the requirements on the game page, I wish we had been more clear in the long term to not disappoint any of the divers out there. Ouch, right in the review. Well, I guess it’s justified. Sorry to everyone for how this all went down. I hope we can make it up to you and regain your trust by continuing to make great games. I just want to make great games!”

I understand that linking accounts and signing up for additional services may not be something that some users would like to do and that needs to be respected. While the steam page has always shown the requirements on the game page, I wish we had been more clear with the long…

— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 3, 2024

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! pic.twitter.com/EPO7apDUlc

— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 3, 2024

Sony wants to integrate the Steam community into the PlayStation Network and Arrowhead is trying to be honest about it… maybe gamers are overreacting!

Source: WCCFTech, Steam, PCGamer