10 Times Developer Moves Backfired, Only for Them to Make A U-Turn

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but shake my head in disbelief when I recall the bizarre saga surrounding Helldivers 2 and Sony’s ill-conceived decision to tie PC players to PSN accounts. Being a global citizen who’s traversed the digital landscapes of gaming from all corners of the earth, I was particularly irked by the thought of being barred from joining in on the fun due to my residence in one of the 177 countries without access to PlayStation Network.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve found myself reflecting on ten times when game developers made some questionable decisions, particularly in relation to cross-platform play. This thought process was ignited by the recent debacle surrounding Helldivers 2 and Sony’s stance on linking PSN accounts with PC players. Here are those instances where developers got it wrong, but interestingly, not every reversal of decision fully restored the lost goodwill.

Helldivers 2 PSN account backtrack

Sony almost ruined the phenomenal success of the year with the puzzling demand for PC users to connect a PSN account to Steam in order to play Helldivers 2. This would have been necessary even if you didn’t already have a PSN account, which could have hindered many players from continuing. This controversial move by Sony sparked widespread dissatisfaction, and it would have prevented players in 177 countries without PSN access from playing the game. Fortunately, Sony reconsidered their decision, stopping the review bombing, and sales – now exceeding 12 million – have continued to grow.

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2024-12-16 20:41