Earth Defense Force 6 gets review bombed on Steam over a surprise Epic account requirement when we should all be bombing giant bugs instead

Earth Defense Force 6 released earlier today, and as you'd be able to tell from our review, we like it quite a bit. But while a new EDF should be cause for raucous celebration from one of the world's more specific types of sicko, I'm pained to report that the sickos are displeased. The would-be bacchanal of big guns and bigger ants is instead the site of another Steam review-bombing. Why? Because EDF 6 requires you to login to an Epic account to play online, even if you're playing on Steam.

At time of writing, EDF 6's Steam rating sits at Mostly Negative after around 1,300 reviews, with only 29% being positive. The negative reviews all share the same complaint: EDF 6 requires an Epic account for online play, which wasn't disclosed anywhere in its Steam listing before release. Early this morning, a few hours after EDF 6 released, its Steam page was updated to specify the Epic account requirement.

«For this game, to enhance cross play and online functionality, online play requires signing in to your Epic Games account. We apologize for the lack of advance notice,» EDF 6 developer Sandlot said in a news post that accompanied the update to the game's Steam page. «Signing in to your Epic Games account is required the first time you play online. Usually, once you sign in for the first time, you will not need to sign in again.»

In all fairness to those upset about the Epic account requirement, it sucks that it wasn't telegraphed before launch. It absolutely should have been. Calling the move a «bait and switch,» as many negative reviews have, feels a little strong to me, however. Am I wrong to think it's an accusation implying a level of cutthroat businesscraft that—and I say this with only love in my heart—might outclass a franchise that only now, in 2024, is crossing an Xbox 360-tier graphical fidelity? The one that's famous for sometimes running at single-digit framerates on consoles? 

Look at those PS2-ass bugs crawling around at a locked 60 fps (a mini EDF miracle)