Sony, not Steam, removed Helldivers 2 from their listings, according to a Valve spokesperson

Steam representatives are communicating with some players of Helldivers 2 that the game's publisher, Sony, removed it from sale in certain areas where the PlayStation Network (PSN) does not operate, rather than Steam taking that action.

In recent weeks, Sony revealed that players of Helldivers 2 on Steam would be expected to link their game to a PSN account to promote safety. The company explained that this linkage was always intended to be a prerequisite for the PC gaming community, but due to initial problems, the requirement was temporarily waived.

This announcement was greeted with considerable protest, prompting a surge of disapproving reviews from displeased Helldivers 2 players on Steam. After Sony withdrew the game from sale in 177 nations lacking PSN access, many players called for refunds, resulting in Sony retracting its decision to impose the obligatory PSN account linkage for the PC version of Helldivers 2.

In an official message, a gamer was informed that the game's unavailability in "certain locations" was "a decision made by the publisher" and that Steam was uncertain regarding the timeframe for the game's potential return in those territories. Players wanting more details were encouraged to reach out directly to Sony to "convey their thoughts."

This revelation is aimed at settling disputes within the gaming community concerning whether it was Steam or Sony responsible for withdrawing Helldivers 2 in the impacted regions. Despite this, the situation is one of several complex and demanding circumstances Sony is managing in its attempts to respond to the criticism.