After the requirement to link Helldivers 2 for PC to PSN led to the cancellation of sales in 170 countries, developers from Arrowhead Game Studios are making efforts to restore the game for sale in all regions. Initially, this measure led to widespread player dissatisfaction, which forced Sony to cancel the mandatory PSN link, however, the game is still not available on Steam in countries where PSN cannot be registered.
Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt in Discord announced that he is negotiating with Sony and Valve to bring Helldivers 2 back for sale everywhere. Pilestedt emphasized that his main goal is to make the game available in all countries. Despite his efforts, it is still unclear whether it will be possible to succeed and whether Sony's decision will be reconsidered.
Bethesda Game Studios has announced an upcoming update for Fallout 4, scheduled for release on May 13th. This update is reported to include new options for graphics and performance settings that should significantly enhance the visual and technical aspects of the game across all supported platforms. Additionally, the developers promise to implement a series of fixes and improvements based on feedback and requests from the gaming community following the previous major update.
The developers from Bethesda Game Studios expressed gratitude to the players for their active participation and support, noting that such interaction is key to further development and refinement of Fallout 4. The studio emphasizes that each update brings not only fixes but also innovations that make the gameplay more exciting and varied.
The new graphics and performance settings are expected to allow players to more finely tune the visual parameters of the game to their preferences, ensuring maximum immersion in the world of Fallout 4. Improvements will affect both performance on powerful systems and optimization for older hardware, making the game more accessible to a wide range of fans.
Gaming enthusiasts can look forward to an imminent announcement from Sony regarding the release of the PC version of God of War Ragnarök. Renowned for his reliable leaks, insider billbil-kun has shared that the Japanese giant is set to continue its strategy of porting its PlayStation hits to personal computers. Previous such releases, like Horizon Forbidden West and Ghost of Tsushima, saw periods ranging from two months to half a year between announcement and launch.
Sony plans to release Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut on PC next week, and the company's focus is now on the next major project. The announcement of the new game is expected this month. This move will strengthen Sony's position in the PC gaming market and broaden its audience by making its games accessible on various platforms.
Next week sees the PC release of Sony and Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut. Despite assurances from developers that the single-player campaign wouldn't require a PlayStation Network (PSN) link, the game has been delisted in various regions, much like Helldivers 2, raising fresh concerns about the game's accessibility. The PSN account is only required for the Legends multiplayer mode, yet this hasn’t prevented the game's removal from Steam and other platforms in some countries.
The removal has caused concern, given Sony's previous backlash from the community following the sudden introduction of PSN linkage requirements after the release of Helldivers 2, leading to a review bombing campaign. It appears that Sony and Sucker Punch could consider releasing a single-player-only version of the game in regions where PSN access is restricted or unavailable to avoid repeating the issue.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut is set to be available on PC on May 16. How these issues will impact overall perception and sales of the game remains to be seen.
Nvidia has released the new GeForce 552.44 WHQL driver, specifically prepared for the upcoming launch of "Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut" on PC. This driver provides optimal performance and stability for the game, including support for Nvidia technologies such as DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and Ray Tracing. Additionally, the driver includes enhancements for the strategy game "Homeworld 3," which supports Nvidia DLSS Super Resolution technology.
Fixes and Known Issues
The update resolves issues with the Resizable BAR profile, which is important for enhancing GPU performance. However, among the known issues are a reduction in GPU load when using Nvidia Reflex (On+Boost) in "Horizon Forbidden West," and random crashes of "Tekken 8" on GeForce GTX 10-series adapters.
According to Circana, American consumer spending on subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus grew by only 1% in April this year compared to last year, with an overall two-year increase of just 2%. This indicates a potential slowdown in the sector.
Market leaders Microsoft and Sony have encountered similar issues. Despite price hikes for their subscription services, their revenues have remained static, suggesting a drop in user engagement.
Xbox Game Pass has not met growth targets since 2022, and while subscriber numbers have slightly increased since then, the data raises concerns among analysts about the future growth prospects of the service. The latest financial report adjusted the number of Game Pass subscribers by including users from the rebranded Xbox Live Gold, now known as Game Pass Core, complicating data interpretation.
These trends raise doubts about the long-term viability of subscription models as the predominant method of game distribution.
Arrowhead Game Studios, creators of Helldivers 2, found themselves at the center of controversy following their decision to require Steam and PlayStation Network account linking. This decision led to a flood of negative reviews, rendering the game unavailable in 177 countries due to lack of PSN access. Following intense criticism, the studio head apologized to the community and expressed intentions to regain player trust.
In response to ongoing discussions, PlayStation announced via their official Twitter that they would not proceed with the controversial update. "We value our fans' feedback and are canceling the mandatory account integration for playing Helldivers 2," stated the tweet.
This decision aims to reassure users and demonstrates the company's willingness to engage with gamers to find the most suitable solution for all. Going forward, the developers face the challenge of not only rectifying the situation but also restoring the lost trust, which will require time and additional efforts.
In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Arthur Bruno, CEO of Crate Entertainment, expressed his frustration with common perceptions about video game development, specifically addressing the project Manor Lords from Slavic Magic. This game is widely regarded as the brainchild of a solo developer, Greg Styczeń. However, Bruno highlighted that the development actually involved a team of specialists.
Bruno emphasized that while Styczeń is the pivotal figure in the development, the project indeed involved numerous contractors and external experts, making it akin to other small projects where a handful of people are employed. For instance, his own studio's project, Farthest Frontier, is developed by just seven people. This challenges the myth that Manor Lords is purely a solo endeavor.
Additionally, Bruno expressed his bewilderment at how the public and some media tend to overstate the role of solo developers, overlooking the significant contributions of other team members and external collaborators, which often remain behind the scenes. He suggested a reevaluation of this narrative to acknowledge that creating a high-quality game is always the result of teamwork.
Crystal Dynamics is preparing to release a new entry in the Tomb Raider series, which will be presented on Unreal Engine 5 and published by Amazon with the goal of creating a multiverse that includes games, movies, and series. According to leaks from insider V Scooper, the new installment will offer an open world where Lara Croft will travel by motorcycle and parachute. The game's release is scheduled for less than a year from now.
In the game, Lara will compete with the Society of Raiders for artifacts of the ancient Emperor Ashoka, which were uncovered following a natural disaster in northern India. Players will have new non-lethal combat options and the ability to recruit allies to assist in missions. This opens up new strategic possibilities in the game.
Rumors suggest the game might be unveiled at this summer's Summer Game Fest with an anticipated release window in 2025. The next major event by Geoff Keighley is scheduled for June 7 and will be streamed from the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.
Sony PlayStation's recently implemented requirement for PC players of Helldivers 2 to link their accounts to PlayStation Network has led to widespread community backlash. As a result, over the past two days, Arrowhead Game Studios' game has received more than 110,000 negative reviews on Steam, setting a new record for premium games. For comparison, the free-to-play game War Thunder gathered about 106,000 negative reviews in one day in May 2023 after announcing changes to its in-game economy, which also displeased players.
This surge in negative reviews has made Helldivers 2 one of the most criticized games on Steam to date. The number of negative reviews is expected to reach 120,000 or more by the end of the day. This phenomenon highlights the significant impact of publisher policies on user product perception and underscores the importance of mutual understanding between developers and the gaming community.
