In an unexpected turn of events, Helldivers 2 has been bombarded with over 145,000 negative user reviews on its Steam page within the last few days. This influx of negative feedback has significantly damaged the game’s once stellar reputation among players.
The backlash against Helldivers 2 began when PlayStation Studios, the game’s publisher, announced a new policy requiring all PC players to link their accounts to an active PlayStation Network account. This decision caught many players off guard, especially since the requirement was implemented months after the game’s initial launch. Players expressed frustration over the inconvenience of creating a second account and raised concerns about data security and privacy issues associated with linking to a third-party service.
Adding fuel to the fire, the PlayStation Network is not available in every region where Steam operates. As a result, Helldivers 2 has been removed from the Steam store in over 170 countries, further alienating a significant portion of the player base. Community manager Spitz clarified on Discord that the development studio was not responsible for the mandate, stating that it was a decision made by Sony. Despite this, the studio affirmed its support for the players’ grievances and encouraged them to voice their discontent through reviews and refunds to exert pressure on Sony.
As a consequence of these events, the once lauded Steam rating of Helldivers 2 has plummeted to a “Mixed” status based on nearly 470,000 user reviews. The recent influx of reviews in the past 30 days has resulted in an alarming “Overwhelmingly Negative” rating, with over 144,000 negative reviews posted in the last two days alone. Additionally, there have been reports of players receiving refunds from Steam as a form of protest against the controversial policy change.
The tumultuous situation surrounding Helldivers 2 serves as a cautionary tale for developers and publishers about the importance of maintaining transparent communication with players and considering the implications of policy changes on the overall player experience. The overwhelming backlash from the community highlights the significant impact that user feedback can have on a game’s reputation and success in the competitive gaming market.
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