Hot on the heels of a controversial policy change, Helldivers 2 has been removed from sale on Steam in numerous countries. The strategic shooter game faced backlash when a mandate for PC players to link their Steam accounts with PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts was announced. Due to negative feedback, including over 100,000 negative reviews on Steam causing its rating to plummet, the title is now unavailable in over 170 countries where the PSN service is not supported, leading to further frustration among the gaming community.

While refunds are typically restricted to games with less than two hours of playtime, Steam has reportedly been granting refunds to players unhappy with the new linking requirement despite surpassing the two-hour threshold. PSN is available in only 69 countries, raising concerns about access to the game. Amidst this turmoil, it's essential to note that Sony, rather than developer Arrowhead, made the decision to implement the PSN link requirement, amidst speculation about the accessibility for pre-existing players in unsupported regions.

Why was Helldivers 2 pulled from Steam in numerous countries?

Helldivers 2 was pulled from Steam sales following a policy change that required players to link their Steam accounts to a PSN account to play. This decision negatively impacted users in over 170 countries where PSN is not available, leading to substantial community backlash and review bombing on Steam.

Helldivers 2 is developed by Arrowhead Game Studios, known for creating cooperative games that emphasize teamwork and strategy. The original Helldivers released in 2015, and was praised for its challenging gameplay and the depth of cooperative tactics needed to succeed in its sci-fi universe. As a sequel, Helldivers 2 carries forward this legacy with further enhancements and content tailored for both solo and multiplayer experiences, but the recent controversy has overshadowed its technical and gameplay accomplishments.