Helldivers 2 Community's 'Operation Clean Up' Restores Positive Steam Reviews After Sony Reverses Controversial Decision
Cover-Credits:
Arrowhead Game Studios
Helldivers 2 recently faced a backlash from the gaming community after Sony announced plans to require PC players to link their Steam accounts to PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts. This decision resulted in over 200,000 negative reviews on Steam, causing the game's review score to plummet. Sony quickly took the community feedback and reversed the decision, The Helldivers 2 community has since taken matters into their own hands with "Operation Clean Up," an initiative to restore positive reviews on Steam.
The Fallout from Sony's Decision
Sony's decision to require PSN account linking for PC players triggered a massive backlash from the Helldivers 2 community. Over 200,000 negative reviews poured onto Steam, plummeting the game's rating from 'overwhelmingly positive' to 'mostly negative' in a short span. Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt expressed disappointment but remained committed to delivering a great gaming experience.
Operation Clean Up
In response to the review bombing, the Helldivers 2 community launched Operation Clean Up. This grassroots initiative encouraged players to reverse their negative reviews and restore the game's positive reputation on Steam. Spearheaded by moderators on the Helldivers subreddit, Operation Clean Up gained momentum, with tens of thousands of positive reviews flooding in since May 6. The recent reviews section now boasts a 'mixed' rating, signaling a significant turnaround.
Impact of Operation Clean Up
Operation Clean Up has shown promising results, with over 70,000 positive reviews submitted since its inception. This has improved the recent review rating from 'overwhelmingly negative' to 'mixed' and the overall rating to 'mostly positive.' The community's coordinated effort highlights the power of player feedback and solidarity in maintaining the integrity of the gaming community.
Arrowhead's Response
Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt acknowledged the community's efforts and expressed gratitude for their support. He also confirmed that a cape design reflecting the review score dip will be available in-game as a gesture of appreciation to the community. Arrowhead's commitment to fostering a positive player experience is evident, and their responsiveness to community feedback is commendable.
