Helldivers 2 has experienced a notable surge in positive reviews after Sony lifted its controversial regional restrictions. Discover how this policy change led to a reversal in community sentiment, and what it means for players and PlayStation titles going forward.
Helldivers 2 Unshackled from Sony Region Lock
Positive Reviews Surge After Regional Restrictions Lifted
In the 48 hours following the removal of regional limitations, Helldivers 2 saw a dramatic increase in favorable reviews. Gamers across the community celebrated what many are calling the game's "liberation from the Sony blockade." On Reddit, user Good_Policy352 sparked widespread attention with a post titled "MAJOR ORDER: Change Negative Review After Region Unlock," which received over 14,000 upvotes. The thread encouraged players to update their previously negative reviews and welcome new players into the fold.
The region lock controversy originally erupted more than a year ago when changes were made to PlayStation Network (PSN) account policies, limiting access based on geographic regions. Sony attempted to enforce a PSN region requirement to continue accessing purchased games, prompting strong opposition from gaming communities.
In response, Helldivers 2 players flooded Steam with more than 200,000 overwhelmingly negative reviews. Eventually, Sony reversed course, though PlayStation versions remained delisted from PC platforms in certain areas, and refunds were issued in some cases.
Iconic PlayStation Titles Return Following Delisting Controversy
God of War Ragnarök, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Now Region-Free
After months of pressure from fans and industry voices, Sony quietly removed regional restrictions from several titles. According to Steam Database updates dated June 13, major PlayStation exclusives such as God of War Ragnarök, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 have also been freed from regional constraints, allowing them broader accessibility on Steam.
Speculation continues over whether the success of Stellar Blade—and potential pushback from developer Shift Up—played a role in Sony’s decision-making process. However, there has been no official statement from Sony confirming this. At this time, no further titles beyond this initial group have been announced for similar treatment.
