Steam's Surprising Move: Refunding Helldivers 2 Players Beyond 2-Hour Playtime

Steam responds to backlash by granting refunds to Helldivers 2 players surpassing the 2-hour limit, revealing dissatisfaction with the mandatory PSN account linking rule.
Steam's Surprising Move: Refunding Helldivers 2 Players Beyond 2-Hour Playtime

Highlights

  • Steam defies its playtime limit by refunding Helldivers 2 players, addressing the uproar over enforced PSN linking.
  • The game's user rating decline and refunds exceeding the 2-hour threshold indicate player discontent.
  • Concerns about potential bans for circumventing PSN restrictions in regions without access complicate the situation.

Steam is taking an unexpected turn in the gaming realm by refunding Helldivers 2 players despite their playtime surpassing the typical two-hour threshold. Developed by Arrowhead Game Studios, Helldivers 2 has enjoyed popularity as a multiplayer game across PlayStation and PC platforms. However, recent controversies surrounding the mandatory PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking for PC users have stirred discontent within the gaming community.

The mandate for PC players of Helldivers 2 to link their PSN accounts, announced through a social media post by Sony via Arrowhead, has triggered outrage among gamers. Players are unhappy with this requirement, arguing that it unfairly restricts game access for individuals in countries without PSN availability.

Player Refunds Sparked by Account Linking Dispute

Despite Steam's usual policy of capping refunds for games played over two hours, numerous Helldivers 2 players have successfully obtained refunds exceeding this limit. Reports indicate that Steam is making special cases in response to the significant outcry against the compulsory PSN linking rule.

The backlash from the account linking announcement has caused a decline in Helldivers 2's Steam rating from