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Sunny, to games in Helldivers 2 Players Express Frustration On Steam As It Will Soon Require A PSN Account

The current top Steam Review;

Yeah i’m not linking my account to PSN.

  • April 2011: Hackers Access Personal Data of 77 Million Sony PlayStation Network Users
  • May 2011: Personal Details on 25 Million Sony Online Entertainment Customers Stolen
  • June 2011: Sony Pictures Website Hacked, Exposing One Million Accounts
  • November 2014: Hackers Steal 100 Terabytes of Data from Sony Pictures
  • August 2017: Hacker Group Accesses Sony Social Media Accounts
  • September 2023: Sony Investigates Alleged Hack
  • October 2023: Sony Notifies Employees of Data Breach
aciDC14,

Ah, that explains why all of my accounts disappeared…

SuperSaiyanSwag, to games in Helldivers 2 Players Express Frustration On Steam As It Will Soon Require A PSN Account

This feature doesn’t affect me personally, but it is still very scummy to add it after launch. Long after refund window is out of the question.

FordBeeblebrox,

Well, it affects me in that now I know not to buy this game and support such a scummy practice.

atrielienz,

Is the game developer involved or is it just Sony doing Sony there are some things that there are some things that don’t things?

AProfessional,

deleted_by_author

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  • atrielienz,

    Yeah but it seems like they were not expecting this change just based on their responses on social media, and it looks like Sony didn’t even “require it” until just recently. So I just wanted to know.

    Phelpssan,
    @Phelpssan@lemmy.world avatar

    The developer is involved. Though it’s pretty obvious that the push for this is from Sony, they are the publisher for the game.

    GoodEye8, (edited )

    The developer is involved to the extent that they have to do what Sony says. The CEO of Arrowhead even tweeted that people should email Sony, referring to a Playstations own website where it stated that PSN is optional. Sony then quickly changed their web page to say it’s sometimes required.

    From my point of view this is all Sony.

    FordBeeblebrox,

    “this step will help us continue to build a community that you are all proud to be a part of”

    Someone is selling ad data from this, not entirely sure if it’s Sony or dev or both

    thisbenzingring,

    It wasn’t added after launch. You could bypass it. Now they are changing that.

    nekusoul,
    @nekusoul@lemmy.nekusoul.de avatar

    That’s true. Personally though, it not being optional for any amount of time just shows that there’s no good argument to have it be mandatory in the first place.

    SuperSaiyanSwag,

    By feature I just mean it being mandatory now

    Kolanaki,
    @Kolanaki@yiffit.net avatar

    A change like this may warrant special exceptions to the refund rules. Steam has made exceptions for similar changes to games made after launch in the past.

    EtherealMoon, to games in Helldivers 2 Players Express Frustration On Steam As It Will Soon Require A PSN Account
    @EtherealMoon@lemmy.world avatar

    People have been remarking that numerous countries are unable to join PSN and this will lock them out of the game. But can someone explain to me how that could be true? Are they literally not on the drop-down menu for selecting your country?

    EncryptKeeper,

    Evidently that is the case.

    spamfajitas,

    One of the Arrowhead community managers said they’re trying to get more information regarding regions, so it kinda seems like they weren’t fully prepared for this/got blindsided by Sony a bit. There should be an FAQ/QA with additional info coming soon.

    tty5,

    Yes. PSN is only available in about 70 countries (out of 190). E.g. in the entire continent of Africa only one country has access.

    Even some members of European Union don’t get PSN.

    casmael, to games in Helldivers 2 Players Express Frustration On Steam As It Will Soon Require A PSN Account

    What’s going on? Is this game published by fucking Sony?

    Chronographs,

    Yes?

    casmael,

    “Wow sony, such quality” - Mike stoklasa, c. 2017 or so

    tsonfeir, to games in Helldivers 2 Players Express Frustration On Steam As It Will Soon Require A PSN Account
    @tsonfeir@lemm.ee avatar

    As a PlayStation user, I’d be pissed if I needed to use a steam login.

    piskertariot,

    Maybe not if you could cross play.

    tsonfeir,
    @tsonfeir@lemm.ee avatar

    To many cheaters on PC

    thisbenzingring, to games in Helldivers 2 Players Express Frustration On Steam As It Will Soon Require A PSN Account

    Eh, I knew it when I bought it. I didn’t know better and signed up. I wasn’t tricked and we all started the game that first time and were told about it

    darthelmet, to games in Helldivers 2 Players Express Frustration On Steam As It Will Soon Require A PSN Account

    Trying to refund it, although pretty low chance since it’s well past the window. But that’s part of what makes it so bullshit to bring this in long after that window closed. I’d have refunded the game on the spot if it actually required the account creation from the get go. I refunded Red Dead 2 after it turned out to require a Rock Star account. Fortunately that was apparent on start up so I just quit and refunded.

    dan1101, to games in Helldivers 2 Players Express Frustration On Steam As It Will Soon Require A PSN Account

    What does a PSN account involve? Just an email and password, maybe a handle/nickname?

    I assume it needs no credit card or payment.

    If all that is true a PSN account is annoying but doesn’t seem so bad.

    MrScottyTay,

    People nowadays hate having more than one account. They can’t even bare having more than one exe that launches other exes installed on the same computer anymore

    RightHandOfIkaros,

    Needing to run a programm just to launch a different program is stupid. I don’t need a middleman, just let me launch the second program directly.

    MrScottyTay,

    Right, so you hate steam too then?

    If you do, I’m more talking about the cognitive dissonance of others that love steam just because it’s the lesser evil of the launchers, but vehemently hate the idea of buying a game on another store front.

    bitfucker,

    What other value does the so called other launcher provide? Modding sdk? Community forum? Family sharing? Controller remap?

    MrScottyTay,

    You can still do all of that stuff without owning the game via steam

    Other than modding via workshop

    bitfucker,

    Sure, but I specifically ask other launcher. If we are talking no launcher at all then it is a different discussion entirely. If we are talking about not having a launcher, yeah, that is understandable too. But then again, many games have their own launcher and they do not add any value other than for the sake of having one/promoting the publisher

    MrScottyTay,

    Yeah specific single game launchers are pretty awful

    dan1101,

    I would definitely be annoyed but have had to create an account for other games too. Give them an email that isn’t your primary email and a unique password, I don’t see where there is any risk after that.

    bigmclargehuge, (edited )
    @bigmclargehuge@lemmy.world avatar

    Remember when telemetry/data collection across the internet was often optional and pretty minor?

    The more shit we absentmindedly agree to because it’s not really a big deal in the short term, the worse it gets in the long term.

    If I play a game on Steam, then Playstation, EA, Ubisoft, etc should all fuck off. I already gave those companies my money, it’s insulting that that isn’t enough anymore.

    Edit: great point I just saw someone else mention, the fact that Sony has allowed over 100 million users’ data to be exposed due to various breaches by bad actors over the past 15 years. At least one of those times, the data was revealed to be nowhere near as secure as it should have been.

    dan1101,

    If all that is required is an email address and password I could live with giving Sony a special email address and unique password, I don’t see where I have a privacy or security risk there. Annoying, but it’s a lot better than another launcher or something. ETA: It asks for birthdate, definitely don’t give them your real birthdate but give them something close. I have a standard fake that I use.

    AtHeartEngineer,
    @AtHeartEngineer@lemmy.world avatar

    Jan 1 1984 of course

    slumberlust,

    They don’t care if it’s a valid email or not. All they want is a unique identifier.

    dan1101,

    They might verify the email. But if you’re that worried about Sony having your email you can just make a unique one for them. You don’t have to give them your primary email.

    Sabata11792,
    @Sabata11792@kbin.social avatar

    I want to buy and eat soup without someone dipping their dick in it and telling me it's a part of the experience.

    CraigeryTheKid,

    Oh my!

    FordBeeblebrox,

    But that’s what makes it artisanal and an extra 3.50

    Iapar,

    “Well if it is just the Tipp I’m fine with it. It is a bit annoying but better then two sweaty balls”

    NodWod,

    Pretty silly comparison.

    fluckx,

    I read that in some regions ( I think UK/Ireland? ) it requires a picture OD your face/ID to verify your age.

    Can’t verify that though

    Sanctus, to games in Helldivers 2 Players Express Frustration On Steam As It Will Soon Require A PSN Account
    @Sanctus@lemmy.world avatar

    Well my PSN account is banned so am I just fucked? Lol what a joke

    Sonotsugipaa,
    @Sonotsugipaa@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

    If that’s the only problem, can’t you make a new one?

    Sanctus,
    @Sanctus@lemmy.world avatar

    Yeah I’m not making a 49th account to play a game I bought with my steam account. That’s just another attack vector for me to deal with. Especially when I’ve been playing on my steam account just fine. Not to mention, my PSN credentials have already been hacked from PlayStation once before after the account was banned. Someone was trying to login to it. So why the fuck would I trust them a second time? Its just more data to leak that’s mine.

    Stovetop,

    FWIW, no need for it to be an attack vector if you just use one of those throwaway email services to sign up for a PSN account you’ll never use anywhere else.

    bitfucker,

    And sony could mandate that the email be a real email, and if you get caught the account gets banned. Congrats, now you invented a game of whack a mole!

    Stovetop,

    Could just make a throwaway account with Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, what have you, then. No real/personally identifiable information attached.

    Not saying I agree at all with what Sony is doing, but anyone who is concerned about their email/personal information getting leaked by something they didn’t want to sign up for, there are options to protect yourself.

    RadimentriX,
    @RadimentriX@troet.cafe avatar

    @Stovetop @bitfucker why should people accept it though? They could play just fine without, why should they accept having to create an additional account and having to log into it every time they play the game? Of theres no shitstorm, this wont stop and might be done by other studios/publishers too

    Stovetop,

    They shouldn’t.

    I am just saying, if the concern is about putting your email on another service, then don’t put your email. You can use a throwaway one if you just want to get through it and play, or if it’s a matter of principle and you don’t want to, that’s cool too.

    Just offering my 2 cents on keeping personal information safe on the web. It’s often unsafe to put all your eggs in one basket and email is no exception, so having some “burner accounts” on hand can help.

    MentalEdge,
    @MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz avatar

    Well if you link it, you will “gain the right to appeal a ban”.

    (This is not a joke it’s in the actual announcement from sony)

    Glide, to games in Helldivers 2 Players Express Frustration On Steam As It Will Soon Require A PSN Account

    So, at first install, I actually linked my account to a PSN account that I knew was banned due to a charge back on an unwanted purchase. At the time, I figured if I discovered that I can’t play because my account is banned from PSN, I’d just refund on Steam. I feel I’ll be very justifiably pissed if my account is now banned from playing retroactively, long after the refund window.

    Rentlar,

    This is the point of contention I am curious about. If Sony can be the one to kick you off the game that you bought on Steam and you don’t get refunded for it, I will review it negatively. Let me know what happens after the update forcing PSN.

    Glide,

    As of today, I am still able to log in. The next point I’m concerned about is the 30th, so we’ll be waiting a while, but I’ll do my best to update.

    Rentlar,

    I presume you will have heard, Sony/Playstation has announced it will reverse on the PSN linking mandate.

    Rentlar, (edited ) to games in Helldivers 2 Players Express Frustration On Steam As It Will Soon Require A PSN Account

    It doesn’t seem like a big change to me, so long as you can just have it linked to your Steam account and nothing else.

    I’d mostly be upset if it breaks Linux compatibility or was a single player game (HD2 isn’t).

    E: Changed only to mostly

    Fiivemacs,

    And the people that bought it but can’t get PSN accounts? Do they get a refund (HAHAHAHAH) or are they just fucked?

    It’s a huge change even if you can’t grasp it.

    Enough demanding accounts for everything.

    Rentlar,

    I think those people that will no longer be able to play it, because Sony doesn’t let them do the thing that they now require, deserve refunds. I will leave a negative review when the update drops if they don’t, despite really enjoying this game, because it’s not fair to those who bought it and will be locked out. If they can make it such that you can have a placeholder Sony account that can’t access all PSN features, for the sole purpose to play this and other Sony games on Steam, that anyone in the world can access, that would be an acceptable compromise to me.

    I understand EULA and account creation fatigue. It’s just that it’s not the accounts themselves that are the worrisome part of the change for me is what I’m saying. If it’s for specific reasoning (console crossplay), is unobtrusive, and maintains access for existing Steam purchasers then I don’t have a real problem. If they use it to limit people’s access that’s where I have a problem.

    nous,

    If they can make it such that you can have a placeholder Sony account that can’t access all PSN features, for the sole purpose to play this and other Sony games on Steam, that anyone in the world can access, that would be an acceptable compromise to me.

    If they did that then what is the point in requiring a login at all… just remove the damned feature that is not required and very few want. We know it is not required as the game has been working fine for months without it. There is zero need for you to need a login for this game. Except that sony wants more user information they can sell to others.

    Rentlar,

    In the compromise model, Sony gets the interaction data they want and pad their account numbers for investors. Players get sustained access to the game. Win-win.

    nous,

    Players get sustained access to the game.

    That should be the default for any game you have brought… not a compromise… Forcing everyone to have an account only serve to benefit Sony.

    n3m37h, to games in Helldivers 2 Players Express Frustration On Steam As It Will Soon Require A PSN Account

    I had to sign up for PSN over a month ago, why is there outrage now?

    aBundleOfFerrets,

    They are removing the “Skip” button from the linking page on game launch and forcing anyone who used it to link a PSN account now

    n3m37h,

    There was a skip button?

    I mean its not like EA games where ya need to install a 3rd party launcher

    Still anyone review bombing over such a stupid thing needs a slap upside the head. Took me all of 2 min to sign up and now I have 90 house played

    No one complains about having to sign up for Xbox shit.

    Sanctus,
    @Sanctus@lemmy.world avatar

    Because Xbox and Windows are fully integrated. Most people gaming don’t have to have a separate account, just an Xbox username that you create once and it is attached to your Microsoft account. You’re right about EA making you download the worst launcher in existence, but this statement about security is bs. Its more about them controlling the psn accounts and not the steam ones.

    redcalcium,

    Steam is available in 237 countries, while PSN is only available in 69 countries. Some people are going to be locked out from the game they bought. E.g African players are going to be fucked.

    FeelzGoodMan420,

    Account creation fatigue. I’m personally not fond of creating a one-off account for every fucking game I play on steam. It’s enough already. EA account, ubisoft account, rockstar account, PSN account, xyz account, ugh. Every new account I create is just an additional attack vector for when all of these companies eventually get hacked. I get occasional emails about security breaches or unauthorized attempts for random ass accounts I created years ago, and it’s so frustrating. I don’t even have a playstation. It’s just so annoying. I’m sick of it. I don’t believe for a fucking second that Sony is requiring this for “security and safety.” Those fucks just want to inflate their user numbers for the shareholders and collect our data to sell to 3rd parties. I am so fucking sick of this shit already. I bought the game on steam. Just let me use my steam account only god dammit.

    n3m37h,

    Wwwwwaaaaaaaa

    I don’t have Xbox or PlayStation and I still signed up. Just use a stupid throw away password. Ya know how many times people have tried to log into my twitch account and I ignored it because even if they did get the password it means absolute jack shit. If ya do use the acct to buy stuff, use a virtual credit card to make payments so its as easy as shutting down that CCD and opening a new one.

    Be more pissed about the rootkit of a anti cheat that they use

    FeelzGoodMan420,

    Maybe be pissed about both?

    SmoochyPit,

    Same— my understanding is that there’s now no option to play without making one, which for some countries and territories is not even an option, making the game unplayable for them.

    n3m37h,

    This makes sense, that’s kind of a shitty deal for them.

    neo,
    @neo@lemmy.comfysnug.space avatar

    It was apparently skippable before.

    Kedly,

    It was so skippable I never even knew there was an option to link to a PS Account, which I dont have because my last PlayStation was the PS2

    Sunny, to games in Helldivers 2 Players Express Frustration On Steam As It Will Soon Require A PSN Account

    Didn’t think this was real at first read. But holy fudge it it is… Game is now being review bombed on steam. Here’s an additional article from Gaming on Linux:

    gamingonlinux.com/…/helldivers-2-will-soon-actual…

    Phelpssan, (edited )
    @Phelpssan@lemmy.world avatar

    The review chart is hilarious.

    review chart

    Doubt Sony or the developer expected this would happen.

    Edit [May/04, 14h UTC]: Updated chart. More than 70k negative reviews already.

    https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/7bf2fab2-65ab-4a27-bcc0-0a7217ad28d4.png

    Sunny,

    thanks for sharing the chart! I doubt they Sony takes a hint from this too, but it certainly shows other developers and publishers something about signing contracts with Sony…

    CleoTheWizard,
    @CleoTheWizard@lemmy.world avatar

    Sony should take the hint. Many of these reviews are from people who can’t even get a PSN account in their country. So Steam is about to be flooded with requests for refunds due to the game not being available to some users. I already asked for a refund because of this.

    It’s unlikely steam will be able to tell people to just pound sand, so Valve will likely step in at some point and then Sony will be in trouble with the platform itself.

    aStonedSanta,

    Yup. I have a feeling Valve will like usual be on the side of their customers.

    umbrella,
    @umbrella@lemmy.ml avatar

    as long as still they make money from it, and people already paid for the game, no they will not.

    Deway,

    Although the Steam page for HELLDIVERS 2 has clearly stated since release that a PlayStation Network account is required, you actually haven’t had to link them. That will change really soon.

    So if it were clearly written on the Steam page, I don’t really get the complains.

    gusgalarnyk,

    Who the fuck reads the entire steam page? My friend says buy the game, the reviews say it’s great with friends, you go and buy the game not scan the steam page for predatory data hoarding policies.

    Anti_Iridium,

    On top of the fact it was (more or less) turnkey. It worked. For months. Why would you look at the page when it works? If it was like that from the start, it would be different.

    Sunny,

    By clearly stated, they mean, in small letters further down on the steam page that nobody reads. Just like a cheeky terms of services…

    Phelpssan,
    @Phelpssan@lemmy.world avatar

    So if it were clearly written on the Steam page, I don’t really get the complains.

    It was optional for several months and the info on the PSN page contradicted that, so there was a lot of room for confusion.

    https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/0d781670-7c80-4995-9aaf-a4aabb652f48.jpeg

    Not surprisingly that PSN page was edited earlier today, but there’s a million screenshots floating around already, plus you can check the previous version in the Wayback Machine.

    And even if it was clearly written on all places, it’s still a “too bad you didn’t read the fine print, now you’re past the limit time for a refund, so either let Sony track you or lose access to the game” situation which is very shitty. There’s also the fact that they sold the game to people in countries where is PSN is not available, which should not have happened if that requirement was going to be enforced in the future.

    Not hard to see why people would get pissed and lose trust in the developer. I also think that players have been annoyed for a while with this type of requirement (not specifically in this game), and they are now getting a good outlet with a lot of publicity around to vent about it.

    CosmoNova,

    That makes much more sense now. I was also wondering why people didn‘t pick up on it earlier given the incredible popularity of this game. So of course people noticed it, but it just didn‘t make much sense. I can see why someone would shrug it off a messy bit of text that probably wasn‘t supposed to be there and will be removed or edited or something. Well edited it was… just not as expected I guess.

    Phelpssan,
    @Phelpssan@lemmy.world avatar

    There’s also the problem that they’re clearly rushing this without much thought, they don’t even have an answer to the obvious question of “what happens to people in regions not supported by PSN”.

    leftzero,

    “But the plans were on display…”

    “On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.”

    “That’s the display department.”

    “With a flashlight.”

    “Ah, well, the lights had probably gone.”

    “So had the stairs.”

    “But look, you found the notice, didn’t you?”

    “Yes,” said Arthur, “yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying ‘Beware of the Leopard.

    — Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

    Sunny,

    Love this! 🙌 Just started listening to the Audiobooks.

    anguo,

    You mean the radio show, I hope?

    Sunny,
    anguo,

    Looks like the web archive is down for me atm. As long as you can hear multiple voice actors and sound effects, you’re at the right place.

    Sunny,

    This is the one narrated by the one and only Stephen Fry <3

    anguo,

    Well, that’s good too, but if you’re listening to audio, might as well listen to a full cast.

    Sunny,

    Could you link to what you’re referring to?

    anguo, (edited )

    Here: archive.org/…/HitchhikersGuideRadioShowLive

    I believe the actual show starts from the 7th file in the list (the first ones are interviews and other such things that happened later)

    Edit: The radio show is how it all started AFAIK.

    Edit 2: please keep in mind that the content of the radio show isn’t exactly the same as the book.

    Sunny,

    thanks :)

    ClassyHatter, to gaming in Remedy Shares Development Updates For Control 2, Max Payne 1+2 Remake, And Codename Condor - Game Informer
    @ClassyHatter@sopuli.xyz avatar

    From Remedy’s business review JANUARY–MARCH 2024

    Codename Condor, a part of the Control franchise, moved to full production meaning it has reached the final development stage before a game is launched. Based on wide internal playtests, we can see that the core loop is engaging, and the game brings a unique Remedy angle to the genre.

    Control 2 team has focused on finalizing the proof-of-concept stage, in which the game world, game mechanics and visual targets are proven. We expect the project to advance to the production readiness stage during the second quarter of 2024.

    Max Payne 1&2 remake continued in the production readiness stage. The game is expected to move into full production during the second quarter of 2024.

    Codename Kestrel continued in the concept stage. The team works to refine the game concept.

    Jagermo, to gaming in Remedy Shares Development Updates For Control 2, Max Payne 1+2 Remake, And Codename Condor - Game Informer

    Saved you a click:

    According to the report, the Control 2 team is “focused on finalizing the proof-of-concept stage, in which the game world, game mechanics and visual targets are proven.” The project is expected to move into the production readiness stage in Q2 of this year. Control 2 was first announced in 2022.

    Max Payne 1&2 Remake, first announced in 2022 as a rebuilt version that combines both games into a single title, remains in the production readiness stage, as first announced last October. However, the game is expected to enter full production in Q2 2024.

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