Helldivers II has caused Sony to completely overhaul its PC release strategy and won’t force PSN access from Steam

No one is unaware of the situation with Helldivers II these days. Sony (which publishes the multiplayer title on both PlayStation 5 and PC) has attempted to force access to the game from a PlayStation Network account, both on console and Steam. And considering that the game achieved 89% negative reviews (it’s now around 75%) and an almost unprecedented review bombing in the industry, it seemed as if Arrowhead’s success already had one foot in the abyss.

Sony is a gaming giant, but the decision to force access on a platform other than their own is a symptom that many in decision-making positions at the company do not understand that PC is a separate market (and a separate world). Implementation has also been questionable, with changes to the legal basis and a large loophole where users (some with close to 100 hours of gameplay) have requested full refunds with demands for “retroactive changes” to the user agreement. Steam has had no choice but to accept the users’ complaints and refund the money.

The situation in the last 48 hours has been so alarming, and the opposition so fierce, that a few hours ago Sony issued a statement announcing that they will not force access to Helldivers II on PC via PSN. This is an unprecedented move, and shows that if enough pressure is applied by players, changes can be made.

“Helldivers fans – we’ve heard your feedback on the Helldivers 2 account linking update. The May 6 update, which would have required Steam and PlayStation Network account linking for new players and for current players starting May 30, will not be carried out.

We’re still learning what’s best for PC gamers, and your feedback has been invaluable. Thanks again for your continued support of Helldivers 2, and we’ll keep you posted on future plans.”

But the real extent of this change in direction goes beyond Helldivers 2. Sony is still relatively new to releasing games on PC and it seems they are now starting to understand how the market works (where they are no longer the dominant force) and creates a precedent for its future strategy. How will these decisions affect multiplayer in Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, which is also coming to PC in a few days? We will soon find out. Currently, the most affected are still users in all territories where Steam access to Helldivers II has been suspendedalthough Sony may reinstate the shutdown later in the day.