No—Helldivers 2 PC players were not ultimately made to link a PSN account under Sony’s 2024 plan. Sony announced the requirement on May 3, 2024, then cancelled it three days later after widespread backlash. The proposal affected Steam players and concerned account linking, not a transfer of saved progress.
What did Sony announce for Helldivers 2 on PC?
On May 3, 2024, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced that Steam players would have to connect their Steam and PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts. The schedule was:
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| Players | Announced timing |
|---|---|
| New Steam players | Account linking would begin May 6, 2024. |
| Existing Steam players | Mandatory login prompts were scheduled to begin May 30, with linking required by June 4, 2024. |
Sony framed the change as enforcing an existing account-linking requirement. But the practical effect was clear: people playing on Steam would need a PSN account to continue under the announced policy. Sony’s Steam announcement and update record both the plan and its reversal.
Why were PC players upset?
The proposal added an account requirement for people who had been playing the Steam version without linking PSN. It also raised a practical concern for players in places where signing up for or accessing PSN could be difficult. The policy was therefore more than a minor login change for some players: it could affect whether they could keep playing as before.
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The backlash was substantial, though its scale should be described with attribution. PC Gamer reported in June 2025 that the dispute generated more than 200,000 negative Steam reviews and that the game was unavailable for sale in 177 countries and territories during the controversy. Those are figures reported by PC Gamer, not official statistics established here. PC Gamer’s 2025 report provides that retrospective account.
Did Sony make the account link mandatory?
No. On May 6, 2024, Sony said the planned update would not move forward. In its announcement, the company wrote: “The May 6 update, which would have required Steam and PlayStation Network account linking for new players and for current players beginning May 30, will not be moving forward.”
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That cancellation reversed the announced requirement before the scheduled May 30 prompts for existing players. The official sources reviewed for this article do not show a current mandatory PSN-linking requirement for Steam players, so the 2024 proposal should not be presented as an enduring rule.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does linking accounts transfer PC and PS5 progress?
No. Arrowhead’s support FAQ says linking Steam and PSN accounts does not copy game data between the PC and PS5 versions. Account linking and cross-progression are separate things: connecting identities does not move saved progress or items between copies. Arrowhead’s cross-progression FAQ explains the distinction.
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Arrowhead currently describes Helldivers 2 as supporting cross-play between PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Cross-play lets players on those platforms play together; it does not mean their game data transfers between platforms. The same FAQ covers both points.
What if you bought the game on Steam and want a refund?
Arrowhead says it cannot process refunds because it does not handle transactions, and directs Steam purchasers to Steam’s refund process. Its current help page does not establish a special refund entitlement tied to the 2024 account-linking controversy. Arrowhead’s refund guidance has the current direction for buyers.
Quick Recap
What PC players should take away
- Sony announced mandatory Steam-to-PSN linking on May 3, 2024, with staged dates for new and existing players.
- Sony cancelled the proposal on May 6, 2024; the planned requirement did not become an enduring rule.
- Account linking does not transfer saved game data between PC and PS5.
- Arrowhead says cross-play is supported across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
