Helldivers 2’s PSN fiasco almost cost fan-favorite Community Manager their job

Despite the tumultuous past few days for Helldivers developers, the Community Manager who supported players during the recent PSN controversy has faced the most precarious situation.

If you have been using the internet within the past 2 days, you are probably aware of the controversy surrounding Helldivers 2. The game’s developers have recently announced that Steam players will now need to link their PSN accounts in order to continue playing. This decision would have resulted in players from 177 countries being unable to spread Managed Democracy.

The announcement sparked an overwhelming amount of criticism and caused a surge in negative reviews. However, due to the determined actions of the Helldivers 2 community, PlayStation ultimately reversed their decision. This collective effort is a notable trait among Helldivers 2 players.

Despite the controversy, the well-known Helldivers 2 Community Manager Spitz was on the verge of being fired due to their participation. However, following their absence in the Helldivers 2 Discord Server, as pointed out by PC Gamer, Spitz fortunately returned and clarified the circumstances.

Helldivers 2: Community Manager Takes Side of Players

“It seems that the publisher was not pleased with my suggestion to encourage people to leave negative reviews and demand refunds for the game. However, I am grateful to still be here and proud of the impact we have made,”Spitz reassured a Helldiver who expressed concern about losing their job.

It seems that PlayStation was dissatisfied with Spitz’s recommendation for players seeking to influence the PSN linking issue. During the controversy, Spitz had proposed that expressing dissatisfaction through reviews, refunds, and other means would give players more leverage in discussions with Sony. While it is unfortunate to see the game’s ratings decline, discussions are still ongoing and we stand with players in this battle.

It appears that the advice was indeed valid, considering that PlayStation’s choice to scrap the update was a direct result of the backlash from players. Although Spitz acknowledged that they may have jeopardized their job, they also comprehended the reasoning behind their actions.

Although I regret it, I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and directed it towards the wrong individuals. As someone in my position, I must ensure that this never happens again. Despite efforts to reverse the effects of the review bombing, Helldivers 2 currently remains in the ‘Mixed’ category on Steam. However, players are encouraging each other to remove negative reviews.