This past week, I noticed headlines and angry Tweets about Helldivers 2 getting “review bombed”. From an outsider’s perspective, I was confused. Helldivers 2 has been a hit since release with minimal complaints. There was a lot of hype and a growing fanbase for this new multiplayer IP.
After researching, it appears Helldivers 2 was review bombed on Steam in protest of PlayStation’s decision to require Steam players to link to a PlayStation Network account. It wasn’t much longer that the industry titan backpedaled. In reversing their decision, did they set a dangerous precedent to enable gamers to force hands with review bombing?
I personally am against review bombing. It is incredibly unfair to the developers of Helldivers 2 (or any game in question) just because the consumer base isn’t “happy”. Here, while linking to PlayStation Network is inconvenient and clearly intended to ensure membership within the network, it’s a business decision that I can understand if I worked for PlayStation. Consumer-friendly? No. Wrong? Not necessarily.
According to MSN, over 200,000 negative reviews blew up on Steam, dropping Helldivers 2 from Overwhelmingly Positive or Overwhelmingly Negative. Currently, as of 5:20 PM EST on May 6th, it sits at Mixed. Even though fans have “won”, this damage may be irreversible, and the review bombers didn’t care to think about the consequences.
I see review bombing almost like a spoiled child blackmailing an adult with something petty like flushing keys down a toilet or throwing a massive temper tantrum in the middle of the mall. I stand with the CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios, Johan Pilestedt, that it’s a sad day that entitled gamers resorted to review bombing what is otherwise considered an excellent game.
I firmly believe that you should review a game based on its merits. If you are upset or discontent with the decision a company makes, you should resort to other, more logical means, instead of thinking with that lizard-brain. While review bombing is not new, I feel that PlayStation’s quick 180 left a dangerous precedent, granting gamers this false power to control the industry from their Cheeto-dusted keyboards in the basement of their parents’ house.
What do you think about review bombing and PlayStation’s decision to change course? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
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The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship podcast of The Boss Rush Network and Boss Rush Media. Each week, hosts Corey Dirrig, Stephanie Klimov, LeRon Dawkins, and Pat Klein come together with their friends, colleagues, and fellow creators to talk about their week in video games, discuss industry topics, conduct interviews, answer listener questions, and more. New episodes every Monday. Get each episode one week early and more perks over on the Boss Rush Network Patreon page.
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