Overview

• Helldivers 2 launched in February 2024, selling 12 million copies in 12 weeks, making it PlayStation’s fastest-selling game ever.
• A controversial decision to require PSN account linking for PC players in May 2024 led to over 100,000 negative Steam reviews and a user score drop to 19%.
• Sony reversed the policy within days, and Arrowhead implemented a 60-day recovery plan, including significant gameplay updates, which restored the user score to 76%.
• Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani described the backlash period as the studio’s 'summer of pain,' drawing inspiration from No Man’s Sky’s redemption arc.
• As of April 2025, Helldivers 2 has stabilized with ongoing updates, a positive user score, and reflections on managing a diverse player base, including six million Call of Duty fans.