Arrowhead CEO responds to backlash over Helldivers 2 PSN requirement, hopes to ‘regain the trust’

The CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios, Helldivers 2‘s developer, has responded to players regarding the upcoming requirement for them to have a PlayStation Network account, but it seems there’s no way to prevent it.

After the announcement earlier today that from the end of the month, Helldivers 2 would once again require players to log into a PlayStation Network account, fans have been expressing their displeasure all over social media. Now Johan Pilested, the CEO of the game’s developer, has stepped up to apologize, telling fans he’s “sorry” to everyone for how this all transpired.

Pilested is sorry for the disappointment the Helldivers 2 PSN account news has caused as players alter their reviews

Pilested’s Twitter post highlights the impact of today’s news. Fans are taking to Steam to either change their review, or leave one for the first time, with a negative rating. It’s altered Helldivers 2‘s review rating to Mixed for Recent Reviews on Steam, and could snowball to hit its All Reviews rating over the weekend.

The developer’s CEO seems genuinely sorry for not only how this news came out and the fan reaction, but also the broken trust the company worked so hard to build up with players in the first place. His words suggest that this PSN account requirement isn’t going away, though. “I hope we will make it up and regain the trust by providing a continued great game experience,” with no indication it will be dropped.

I’ve had no end of great things to say about Helldivers 2 and how the developer is working hard to justify the extra cash it charges for its Warbonds. This is the first instance that it feels like players aren’t being treated fairly, but it also looks to be out of Arrowhead Game Studios’ control. Sony, for the record, is the publisher of Helldivers 2.

At the time of writing, Helldivers 2 players on Steam can play the game without needing a third-party account. That’s going to change at the end of May, though, when they’ll be forced to log into a PlayStation Network account. While this might not be an issue in the UK or the US, it’s not possible to create a PSN account in some countries where it is possible to have a Steam account, which is why more than a few players are annoyed about this change.

This means that Helldivers 2 players outside of the countries Sony has listed on its website may not be able to play once this change comes into effect. Of course, they could always circumvent the system and create an account for a country outside of their region, but that feels like it defeats the point. However, Sony insists these accounts are needed to keep players safe, and Arrowhead Game Studios seems to have no say.

Fans on the Helldivers 2 subreddit have reported that the game’s community manager is asking them to make their voices heard where it matters. They explained, “Change your Steam review and make your displeasure known on a platform where it matters.”