Helldivers 2 Boss Offers Update on PSN Account Controversy

Arrowhead is currently in discussions with Sony over how to deal with the ongoing controversy surrounding the retroactive enforcement of the PSN account requirement for playing Helldivers 2 on PC, a senior company official has revealed. This community update also offered some additional insights into the ongoing Helldivers 2 drama.

The PlayStation-published live-service shooter was released in early February for the PS5 and PC. Its Steam version was initially sold internationally, offering an optional ability to link the game with one's PlayStation Network account. But that was never an option for many, as Sony only offers PSN in 73 out of the 195 countries across the world. While it's technically possible to create an account for a supported region from anywhere on the planet, even without a VPN, doing so is against Sony's terms of service and grounds for a ban. But the upcoming Helldivers 2 update that's set to roll out on May 6 will make PSN account linking mandatory, the publisher said on May 3, inciting widespread backlash from the fandom.

Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt initially responded to the Helldivers 2 PSN drama by vowing to «regain the trust» of the community. The vague pledge was met with polarizing reactions from the company's customers. Pilestedt has now once again taken to social media to offer some clarity on the situation, stating that the Swedish studio is currently in the process of «talking solutions with PlayStation.» And while the executive assured fans that their «voice has been heard,» he noted that he doesn't have «the final say» over how the situation will be handled.

Despite the decision on the solution being out of his hands, Pilestedt conceded that he shoulders some responsibility for the ongoing Helldivers 2 controversy. He hence admitted that it was his decision to make the PSN account linking optional at launch. «I am not blameless in all of this,» the executive wrote, noting Arrowhead was aware of the PSN requirement being mandatory