Helldivers 2 Players Get a Cape for... Review Bombing? Fair Dinkum!
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Arrowhead Game Studios is giving Helldivers 2 players a cape to commemorate the infamous review bombing incident caused by Sony's PSN account linking debacle, because nothing says 'we listened' like a stylish reminder of when things went properly sideways.
Right, strap yourselves in, Helldivers! Remember that absolute kerfuffle last year when Sony tried to force everyone to use PSN accounts to play Helldivers 2 on PC? Yeah, the one that resulted in a review bomb so massive it looked like Super Earth was under attack *from the inside*? Well, Arrowhead Game Studios, bless their cotton socks, haven't forgotten it either. And now they're commemorating the whole shebang with a cape.
Yep, you heard that right. The *Pillars of Freedom* cape is here, a little over a year after the initial suggestion, and it's Arrowhead's way of saying, "We remember the time you all went absolutely mental, and, well, thanks for that?"
For those who missed the original drama (where *were* you, mate?), Sony’s attempted PSN integration caused a right old stink. Players revolted, Steam reviews plummeted faster than a Hellpod without its brakes, and refunds were flying out the door like confetti at a Super Earth victory parade. It was glorious chaos, and it prompted then-CEO (now Chief Creative Officer) Johan Pilestedt to float the idea of a cape inspired by the four dramatic red lines on the game's Steam review chart. The community, naturally, lapped it up.
The design features those very same red bars, a visual reminder of the time the community roared louder than a Bile Titan. It's a wonderfully cheeky way for Arrowhead to acknowledge the power of player feedback (and the, ahem, *forceful* manner in which it was delivered). The cape is being rolled out to all existing Helldivers 2 players, so check your Super Destroyer Armouries – it might take a little while to arrive, so don't panic if it's not there immediately.
Of course, it hasn't all been sunshine and roses for Helldivers 2 since that PSN palaver. Last August saw some, shall we say, *robust* community criticism regarding the game's direction. But Arrowhead seems to have learned a thing or two about listening to its players, quickly implementing a 60-day plan to address the issues. And let's be honest, that unity has been crucial in the fight against the Automatons and, more recently, those pesky Illuminate.
So, what's the takeaway here? Well, apart from the fact that democracy is best served with a healthy dose of dissent (and a stylish cape), it's a reminder that developers who listen to their community can weather even the most spectacular of storms. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to spread some Managed Democracy while sporting my brand-new review bomb cape. For Super Earth!
Tags: Helldivers 2, Arrowhead Game Studios, Review Bombing, Sony, Community
Original article: Eurogamer