After the controversy surrounding a PSN account requirement in Helldivers 2, the makers of the upcoming shooter Concord continue to defend such a requirement in their game.
It was one of the biggest shitstorms in the video game world in the current year 2024: The successful title Helldivers 2 was supposed to receive an obligation to link a PSN account on the PC via Steam via an update – and this was not well received by the players, also because several countries without a connection to the PSN would have been excluded from the game. There was a hail of criticism, bad reviews and more – before the developers rowed back and did not introduce the PSN requirement after all.
Concord is the next action title from Sony and, despite the controversy surrounding Helldivers 2, this will also require the use of a PSN account on the PC. This was communicated before the release and is still being defended by the developers.
In an interview with Eurogamer, Kim Kreines, Director of IP at developer Firewalk, has now commented on this and explains the PSN commitment as follows: “This allows us to have cross-play and also cross-progression, which is an important part for us.”
Lead character designer Jon Weisnewski adds that “the goal is for players to come together. That’s why it’s an important part for us that PC players and PS5 players can come together, that cross-play and cross-progression work – just from a technical point of view.”
The only alternative to a PSN account requirement would obviously have been a separate account system, as is used in Destiny 2. Cross-play and cross-progression are possible there via the Bungie account. However, Concord avoids setting up such a separate system and relies on the established PSN.
Even if the negative reactions to the first trailer suggest otherwise: Concord could be really good!
