Steam Removes Helldivers 2 Purchase Restrictions From Several Countries

Helldivers 2 has been relisted on Steam in a few countries after previously being delisted due to Sony’s controversial decision to require PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking for PC players. Helldivers 2, the cooperative shooter developed by Arrowhead Game Studios, faced significant backlash when Sony mandated that all PC players link a PSN account to their Steam accounts to continue playing the game.

The delisting of Helldivers 2 affected over 180 countries, significantly limiting access for a large portion of the gaming community. This move followed a surge of negative feedback from players, which eventually led Sony to reverse the PSN account linking requirement. Despite reversing the decision, Helldivers 2 remains unavailable in many regions, causing frustration among fans who were eager to play one of the year’s most popular releases.

Steam Relists Helldivers 2 in Several Countries

According to a recent SteamDB update, Helldivers 2 is now available for purchase again in American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These territories, all associated with the United States, were the first to see the restrictions lifted. This partial relisting suggests that Sony might be beginning to address the widespread unavailability of the game. The move is seen as a small but hopeful step toward making Helldivers 2 accessible to players worldwide again.

Helldivers 2‘s initial success was due in large part to its simultaneous release on both PlayStation 5 and PC in February 2024. This strategy diverged from Sony’s usual practice of delaying PC ports and aimed to capitalize on the growing PC gaming market. Despite early server issues, the game quickly gained a large following, selling over 12 million copies and becoming one of Sony’s fastest-selling games. However, the enforced PSN account linking on Helldivers 2 led to a steep decline in its Steam rating and numerous refund requests.

In an effort to manage player dissatisfaction, Steam made the rare move of issuing refunds to Helldivers 2 players even if they had exceeded the standard two-hour playtime limit. This decision came in response to the significant backlash and demonstrated the scale of the issue. Many players were relieved by the reversal of the PSN requirement, although they remained frustrated by the continued unavailability of the game in numerous regions.

Industry analyst Mat Piscatella highlighted that the PC version of Helldivers 2 accounted for over half of the game’s U.S. sales, making it Sony’s seventh highest-grossing game in the U.S. This achievement underscores the importance of multi-platform releases and the potential revenue from the PC gaming market. The success of Helldivers 2 on PC played a crucial role in its overall performance, highlighting the changing landscape of game distribution. The relisting of Helldivers 2 in a few countries is a positive sign, but the broader issue of global accessibility remains. As the gaming industry evolves, ensuring equitable access to games across different regions and platforms is increasingly important.

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.

Franchise

Helldivers

Released

February 8, 2024

Developer(s)

Arrowhead Game Studios

Platforms That Support Crossplay

PC & PS5

Expand