Helldivers 2 Access Removed from 177 Regions

Highlights

Helldivers 2 is unavailable for pruchase on Steam in over 170 regions, sparking major backlash from players.
Arrowhead cites technical issues for the delayed PSN requirement, but players voice concerns over lack of access in certain countries.
Valve issued refunds for Helldivers 2 as Sony appears to be sticking to its PSN mandate, leaving players uncertain about the game’s future.

Arrowhead’s popular co-op shooter Helldivers 2 has been delisted from Steam in over 170 regions. This drastic step follows a controversial decision by publisher Sony, mandating Steam players to connect their accounts to a PlayStation Network (PSN) account before June 4 to continue playing Helldivers 2.

This unexpected switch-up incited severe outrage in the Helldivers 2 community, as linking a PSN account to the game was an option at launch. Arrowhead cites technical issues as the reason behind the delayed implementation, stating that the requirement was always mentioned on the Steam page, for those shocked by the mandate. However, the player base has pointed out several issues with the new rule, with the lack of PSN access in some countries being the biggest of them all. The Helldivers 2 developer confirmed internal discussions to rectify the problem, but it appears more issues have surfaced for gamers in some regions.

Helldivers 2 is Being Review Bombed

The smash hit co-op shooter game Helldivers 2 is currently being review bombed by some fans that are angry at the game.

Helldivers 2 has been removed from Steam in precisely the regions unsupported by PlayStation Network. The Steam Database Twitter account posted a list of all the countries where Helldivers 2 can no longer be purchased, and the exact current count stands at 177 regions. It’s unclear whether this step is temporary to give Sony and Arrowhead some breathing room to figure out the solution, but existing players in those regions will no doubt be awash with uncertainty over whether they can still access their purchase, or perhaps even face a ban for using a PSN workaround.

Even Valve is Aware of the Helldivers 2 Outrage

Players are expectedly furious at Arrowhead and Sony, as they’ve resorted to review bombing Helldivers 2 on Steam, dragging down the user score to a paltry “Mostly Negative.” This debacle has also cast a shadow of doubt over Helldivers 2‘s future, which, up until this point, looked quite strong. The circumstances are quite dire now, as even Steam is reportedly issuing refunds for Helldivers 2, even for players with over 100 hours of playtime, exceeding its usual two-hour limit policy.

Despite the escalating controversy, Sony has yet to offer an official response to the backlash, further aggravating players. Arrowhead CEO and Helldivers 2 director Johan Pilestedt acknowledged the review bombing and apologized to fans, but said the decision is ultimately up to Sony. Many predicted that the publisher would walk back on the decision after the outrage, but now that access to the game has been restricted in a large portion of the market, it seems Sony is sticking to its guns about the PSN mandate.

Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 is a third-person cooperative shooter developed by Arrowhead games Studios for the PC and PlayStation 5 where players take control of a Helldiver set to protect the citizens of Super Earth by traveling to hostile alien worlds and destroying threats. Players undergo missions, defeat enemies, and use special items called Stratagems to help turn the tide of battle in this punishing release.

Released: February 8, 2024
Developer(s): Arrowhead Game Studios
Franchise: Helldivers
Metascore: 83