The gaming world witnessed an unusual incident recently, where disgruntled gamers took to Steam to express their dissatisfaction with Sony’s decision regarding Helldivers 2. However, their frustration went beyond simply reviewing the unreleased sequel. In a phenomenon known as “review bombing,” negative reviews flooded the Steam pages of several established PlayStation titles, despite having no connection to Helldivers 2 itself.
Understanding the Helldivers 2 Controversy
Helldivers 2, a follow-up to the popular cooperative top-down shooter Helldivers, was initially announced as a PlayStation exclusive. However, this decision by Sony sparked outrage amongst fans who desired a multi-platform release, particularly on PC via Steam. The disappointment culminated in a wave of negative reviews targeting not just Helldivers 2, but also other PlayStation games available on Steam.
The Scope of the Review Bombing
Games like God of War, Days Gone, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Last of Us Part I, Uncharted Collection: Legacy of Thieves, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, Returnal, and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales all received an influx of negative reviews on Steam. These reviews, often unrelated to the actual gameplay or content of the games, expressed frustration with Sony’s decision concerning Helldivers 2.
Industry Response and Impact
The situation garnered a response from Matthias Lindahl, the head of Arrowhead Game Studios, developers of the Helldivers franchise. He expressed his disappointment at the negative reviews targeting the original Helldivers, which predates the controversy entirely. Lindahl emphasized the disconnect between user frustration and the unrelated games being attacked.
Sony eventually reversed their decision on Helldivers 2, announcing a multi-platform release. While this should resolve the initial issue, the review bombing incident highlights the potential consequences of publisher decisions on unrelated products. This incident raises concerns about the effectiveness of user reviews on platforms like Steam, where valid criticism can be overshadowed by targeted negativity.
Key Takeaways
- Disgruntled gamers expressed their frustration with Sony’s decision on Helldivers 2 by review-bombing unrelated PlayStation games on Steam.
- Titles like God of War, Days Gone, and Horizon Zero Dawn received negative reviews despite having no connection to Helldivers 2.
- The incident raises concerns about the validity of user reviews and the potential for manipulation.
FAQs
Q: What is review bombing?
A: Review bombing is the act of flooding a product’s online reviews with negative feedback, often unrelated to the actual product or service.
Q: Why did gamers review bomb PlayStation games on Steam?
A: Gamers were frustrated with Sony’s decision to make Helldivers 2 a PlayStation exclusive, and expressed this frustration by leaving negative reviews on unrelated PlayStation games available on Steam.
Q: Did Sony change their decision on Helldivers 2?
A: Yes, Sony ultimately reversed their decision and announced a multi-platform release for Helldivers 2.
Q: Does review bombing affect the quality of user reviews?
A: Yes, review bombing can make it difficult for potential customers to find genuine and helpful reviews.
