Helldivers 2, a popular game developed by Arrowhead, was initially removed from PSN in 177 countries due to a mandatory PlayStation Network (PSN) linking requirement for PC players. This led to over 410,000 negative reviews and significant review bombing on various platforms. In response to the community's strong reaction, Sony decided to make the PSN linking optional, aiming to mend its relationship with PC gamers and continue its expansion into PlayStation on PC. This decision was influenced by the Helldivers 2 community's collaborative efforts, as acknowledged by Johan Pilestedt, the game's creative director. Following this reversal, the game's sales surged, making it the best-selling game of 2024, and fans have been encouraged to reverse their negative reviews.
Steam review bombing is gaming's most powerful method of protest: 3 takeaways from Helldivers 2's weekend meltdown. https://t.co/B1iuNjedQ1
Helldivers 2 fans are making cape designs from the Steam review bombing, and they might actually appear in the game! https://t.co/4tL5Gff8BM https://t.co/bpx6lEWUpQ
Helldivers 2 Community Manager Seemingly Gone After PlayStation Login Meltdown https://t.co/EF4LLjlCUH https://t.co/gGvELfFgSE
Helldivers 2 community manager seemingly fired after encouraging negative reviews over now-canceled PSN mandate: "I knew I was taking a risk with what I said" https://t.co/RJhoNhVDHR
Data for Helldivers II suggests player discontent last weekend didn't just manifest in bad user reviews but in players not playing the game Steam peak concurrents for H2 typically rise on Friday, peak Sat/Sun Last weekend, they drifted down. Then rose Monday after Sony relented https://t.co/oYxHmlJ9Ek
What the heck is going on with Helldivers 2? https://t.co/JVvxnspgt7
"Operation Clean-up" begins for Helldivers 2 players as Sony's PSN plans lie in rubble, with over 70,000 (and counting) positive reviews landing on Steam. https://t.co/8fWPypPCA9
Helldivers 2 Gets Pulled From Steam in 170 Countries https://t.co/w53OueBHYL
Helldivers 2 fans commence "operation clean-up" on Steam reviews after Sony walks back controversial PSN mandate: "Real-life Major Order complete" https://t.co/vZNqy9ALwk
Helldivers 2 CEO Praises 'Willpower' of Community in Sony Showdown https://t.co/iGhOuxX1UP #Repost #Sony #PS5 #Helldivers
"Turns out that telling people to review-bomb and refund a game isn't a popular decision with the publisher." https://t.co/zISO88TdYA
User reviews for the Steam version of Helldivers 2 have seen a huge turnaround, as fans have encouraged each other to change their negative ratings to positive ones. https://t.co/4wrzxCUFGv https://t.co/wgGOMjAVBA
Amidst the recent controversy surrounding Helldivers 2, the game's Community Manager almost lost their job. "Turns out that telling people to review-bomb and refund a game isn't a popular decision with the publisher": https://t.co/Pyqg5CIKjH #Helldivers2 https://t.co/S4KhDfrpXj
Helldivers 2 CEO Praises 'Willpower' of Community in Sony Showdown https://t.co/iGhOuxX1UP #Sony #PS5 #Helldivers
Helldivers 2 Review https://t.co/QVVBsFEtvx
These commemorative Helldivers 2 review bomb capes actually look really nice #Helldivers2 https://t.co/iYcrLk07nY https://t.co/1LRkw5SqE8
🛑New Video Just Released🛑 Gamers Most EPIC WIN In History! Helldivers 2 Players FORCE Playstation To Bend The Knee To Steam! Watch & Share https://t.co/EYqFtfNF2k
An Arrowhead community manager was 'almost, but not quite' fired for encouraging Helldivers 2 review bombing and refunds. https://t.co/wXeTik5Vl7
I can finally play Helldivers 2 again: https://t.co/4s131CmrLJ
PlayStation Reversing Course On Helldivers 2 Is Both Smart And A Sign Of How Inept It Is https://t.co/3o7lNsYuc3 https://t.co/4bJeHpFra3
The gaming community this weekend with HellDivers 2 https://t.co/bF8jgLdynw
This is absolutely dope @helldivers2 @PlayStation https://t.co/wqpMS8KZO6
As Helldivers 2's Steam reviews begin to recover, Arrowhead's CEO shares an 'accidental' cape design based upon its Overwhelmingly Negative rating, and of course the community wants it added to the game. https://t.co/rBL3ozwaEC
While Helldivers 2 creative director Johan Pilestedt thanked Sony for "quickly and effectively" addressing player concerns over account linking for the game on PC, he went on to commend the community for their "willpower" and "ability to collaborate." https://t.co/eK6P9awFpF https://t.co/A3agHVjcrg
Helldivers 2 PSN fiasco forces Ghost of Tsushima dev to clarify its PC account linking plans https://t.co/pm2YAIywsW
After a chaotic weekend, #Helldivers2 just showed us that the high rewards of live service come with some serious risks. https://t.co/izCuHF6wDh
Keep it up! WE PROMISED | #Helldivers2 🔗 GHQSTLY https://t.co/sEkFKQHRlY
Major Order Completed: Helldivers 2 players declare Glorious Victory over Sony https://t.co/KRqqkUnGoz
Seeing how Sony treated Arrowhead through all this, Sony will have to prove themselves again to developers, who are understandably hesitant to work with Sony as a publisher moving forward. This is a great step though. Also can we now bully Sony for Bloodborne PC thanks. https://t.co/03DiNo8Edo
Helldivers 2 Boss Impressed by Players' 'Willpower' in Reversing PlayStation Network Requirement https://t.co/9h3l2Hqj5B https://t.co/kmsJKd089O
Helldivers fans just proved that so long as we are united under a single front, we DO have the power to shape gaming and the world for that matter with our voice. Never stop fighting for what you believe is fair! #Helldivers2 https://t.co/umNtExUHM2
Sony's reversal of its PSN linking for Helldivers 2 is purely being made to recoup its standings amongst Steam players. Don't conflate this as some sort of win for the hate-mongers online. Their bullying campaign did nothing. https://t.co/HgFyNyRKCt
Sony Backtracks On Helldivers 2 Situation And Nintendo Makes An Interest... https://t.co/zY6W32Oszl via @YouTube
To All The PlayStation Executives Who Follow Me Please See This: Helldivers II Proves PlayStation Should Never Go Day In Date With PC, This Is Extremely Clear!
Helldivers 2 players prove review bombing can lead to positive change, as Sony drops PSN linking requirement https://t.co/DT6TndyaV0 #gamedev #gamedevelopment #indiedev
Review Bombers Were Even Attacking Other Games Made by Helldivers 2 Dev https://t.co/LLHrDfq3H3 #Repost #Sony #PS5 #PS4 #Helldivers #Industry #Culture
Sony Gives Up ‘Helldivers 2’ PSN Link Demand, The Only Way This Could Have Ended via @forbes https://t.co/MOfKclORos https://t.co/YCDUHxCcy6
GAMERS WON! https://t.co/344MRyZFLf #Helldivers2
New Major Order just dropped!! PLEASE HELLDIVERS, REVERSE THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS, THIS GAME HAS HUGE POTENTIAL TO BE GOTY 2024 As of right now, It's the best-selling game in 2024 🔥 #Helldivers2 https://t.co/qTRHIDkRas
Firstly, I am impressed by the willpower of the @helldivers2 community and your ability to collaborate. Secondly I want to thank our partners and friends at @PlayStation for quickly and effectively making the decision to leave PSN linking optional. We together want to set a new… https://t.co/2rayksgH1v
They never stood a chance against the awesome might of the Helldivers. Funny that this has happened in an incredibly popular game that unites the players against a common cause. Power to the people. Anyway, back to wiping out those...err socialist robots https://t.co/wPEgyA0Z9b
Firstly, I am impressed by the willpower of the @helldivers2 community and your ability to collaborate. Secondly I want to thank our partners and friends at @PlayStation for quickly and effectively making the decision to leave PSN linking optional. We togheter want to set a new… https://t.co/2rayksgH1v
Sony will find it hard, perhaps even impossible to win back the trust of PC gamers. A decision to reverse the PSN requirement for Helldivers 2 was necessary, but the lasting damage will be a real hurdle for Sony’s PC ambitions after years of excitement for PlayStation on PC https://t.co/yVZbUbSdUY
After Helldivers 2 was removed from 177 countries over PSN linking requirements, players have been bombing the game with negative reviews, which are now over 410 thousand. While Arrowhead's CEO says they're still in talks with PlayStation: https://t.co/s3rfXXtkVd #Helldivers2 https://t.co/JPklPW8tJH
Teamwork makes the dream come true! Together For Managed Democracy! *a Cup of Liberty playing in the background #HELLDIVER2 #PlayStation #PlayStation5 https://t.co/ikXS6o3zdg
Teamwork makes the dream come true! Together For Liberty. Together for victory. Together For Managed Democracy. #HELLDIVER2 #PlayStation #PlayStation5 https://t.co/wUWprIqhC7
We did it. #Helldivers2 https://t.co/JcmRwLVF4z
Review Bombers Were Even Attacking Other Games Made by Helldivers 2 Dev https://t.co/LLHrDfq3H3 #Sony #PS5 #PS4 #Helldivers #Industry #Culture