Helldivers 2 Shouldn’t Win Game of the Year Because We Can’t Let Sony Get Away With It

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Helldivers 2 Shouldn’t Win Game of the Year Because We Can’t Let Sony Get Away With It

Helldivers 2 has been one of the biggest games of 2024. Although it garnered widespread acclaim at launch, the game has suffered from significant player drop-off, community backlash, and a series of poorly received updates. While it may have made a comeback with recent updates, Sony’s handling of the game has been sloppy. Especially considering the PSN fiasco.

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The game is easily one of the biggest of 2024.| Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios

For these reasons, while Helldivers 2 might be popular, it shouldn’t win Game of the Year. Allowing it to do so would send the wrong message to the gaming community and enable companies to overlook player needs.

It’s Been a Year Full of Ups and Downs for Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 initially blew up and went viral with its gameplay and co-op PvE design, attracting a substantial player base. The game peaked with nearly 500,000 active players, a clear showing of its initial success. By mid-2024, player numbers had drastically dwindled due to repetitive gameplay mechanics and a lack of new content.

So Arrowhead’s CCO has been posting quite the storm over players’ less-than-impressed feedback over Helldivers 2’s “balancing”.

Which is kind of exacerbated when many watched the devs stream their gameplay and…failing hard even on D7.

Helldivers 2 reviews have also officially…

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Arrowhead’s inability to maintain player interest was a part of this falloff. The game’s community was huge, but there was nothing to keep players playing. The initial success, boosted by popularity on social media and community memes, could not sustain the long-term excitement necessary for a live-service model.

Moreover, Arrowhead’s struggles were compounded by Sony’s controversial decision to require a PlayStation Network (PSN) account for Steam players. Announced in May 2024, this move triggered a massive backlash, with the game receiving over 200,000 negative reviews on Steam within days.

The player community’s reaction was swift and severe, leading to review ******** and widespread criticism. This drastic change not only affected Helldivers 2 but also cast a shadow on Sony’s understanding of its player base’s needs and preferences.

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The backlash forced Sony to reverse its decision swiftly, but the damage was already done. The incident highlighted Sony’s disconnect with its player community and its ******** to anticipate the implications of such a policy, especially in regions without PSN availability, where the game was delisted in 177 countries.

It’s No Fault of The Game, Just The Corporation Behind It

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Corporate greed cannot stand in the way of democracy. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios

Despite a brief resurgence following a recent update, the game’s troubles are far from over. Helldivers 2‘s latest patch did help in bringing back some players, with the peak player count on Steam tripling post-update. However, this uptick might be temporary as it largely addressed existing issues rather than introducing new content.

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Giving Helldivers 2 the GOTY award would not only validate Sony’s mishandling of the title but also send the wrong message to the industry at large. It would suggest that companies can get away with launching unfinished or poorly managed games and still receive accolades based on initial success.

Sony’s handling of the PSN account linkage and Arrowhead’s constant missteps should also be considered in the thought process. Rewarding Helldivers 2 would undermine the importance of consistent quality and player satisfaction throughout a game’s lifecycle.

Moreover, Sony’s heavy-handed tactics are a reminder that platform holders must be held accountable for how they treat their players. Sony showed a willingness to sacrifice player experience for corporate gain. And that isn’t very democratic for Helldivers 2.

What do you think of the game’s journey in 2024? Let us know in the comments!

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#Helldivers #Shouldnt #Win #Game #Year #Sony

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