Review-bombing campaigns have often emerged from contentious cultural debates surrounding trans characters, queer developers, or the perceived influence of liberal writing consultants on major corporations. However, a recent incident involving Helldivers 2 has highlighted the potential of these campaigns to address legitimate consumer concerns, particularly regarding the PlayStation Network’s (PSN) sign-in requirement.
Consumer Grievances and Corporate Responses
Initially, Sony and Arrowhead communicated that a PSN sign-in would be implemented in due course, and at that time, the implications seemed minimal. Yet, many players expressed frustration over the exclusion of gamers in regions with access to Steam but not PSN. Despite this, Sony has largely abandoned its ambitions for PSN on PC while continuing to exclude certain countries from Helldivers 2 and other releases. Interestingly, players in the global north appear less concerned about these disparities.
The justification of “player protection” felt somewhat disingenuous, as it seemed more about funneling users into Sony’s PSN ecosystem. The necessity to manage online services that players would otherwise avoid, coupled with the requirement to share personal information, is universally irksome.
This past weekend, the situation escalated when Sony’s PlayStation Network experienced a complete outage lasting 24 hours, with the company remaining tight-lipped about the cause. Had Sony maintained the PSN sign-in for Helldivers 2, the game would have faced the same issues on PC as it did on console. The same would apply if the log-in requirement had been enforced for single-player titles. For instance, players could enjoy God of War Ragnarok offline after logging into a PSN account, but a PSN outage would have hindered the initial setup of a game that fundamentally does not require an internet connection.
Understanding the PC Audience
It appears that Sony struggles to grasp the nuances of the PC gaming audience. The company seems to be reluctantly entering the PC market, driven by the robust growth of PC gaming and the stagnation of consoles. However, the demands and delays imposed on PC players can come across as patronizing, suggesting that Sony views itself as a benevolent provider of long-awaited PlayStation exclusives.
The reality is that Sony must earn the loyalty of PC gamers. With an abundance of quality games available on PC, players are unlikely to accept being tethered to a service that charges extra fees for online access to games, internet connections, and consoles they have already purchased. This is especially poignant considering the PSN’s history, which includes one of the most significant cybersecurity breaches of the 21st century. The details surrounding the PSN’s outage on February 7 and 8 remain unclear, and Sony has yet to provide clarity on the extent of any potential compromise.
As the narrative unfolds, it becomes increasingly evident that mandatory sign-ins to ancillary services like the PlayStation Network are not merely inconveniences. They represent a significant imposition that consumers should strive to avoid, given the genuine risks involved.
