Your PC in instalments (up to 12x)
By the FlowUP team, gaming PC builder in Genappe (Belgium) · Updated 29 September 2026
In brief: In May 2024, Sony announced that PC players of Helldivers 2 would have to link a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to their Steam account. After a wave of negative reviews on Steam and the removal of the game in 177 countries where PSN does not exist, Sony backtracked within 48 hours on 5 May 2024. Since then, Sony has made the PSN account optional for its PC games (January 2025), and Helldivers 2 launched on Xbox in August 2025. To play it on PC, the recommended setup is still available: RTX 2060 or RX 6600 XT, 16 GB of RAM and an SSD.
What happened in May 2024
Helldivers 2 launched on 8 February 2024 on PS5 and PC, and was one of the big successes of the year. On 3 May 2024, Sony announced that linking a PlayStation Network account would become mandatory to play on PC: from 6 May for new players, and 4 June for everyone. The problem: PSN is not available in many countries, and the game had been sold there on Steam.
The reaction was immediate. The game received more than 84,000 negative reviews on Steam, and Steam removed Helldivers 2 from sale in 177 territories without PSN. On 5 May, Sony announced that it would give up on the account-linking requirement.
On PC, Helldivers 2 can be played without a PSN account since Sony’s about-turn in May 2024.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 8 February 2024 | Helldivers 2 releases on PS5 and PC |
| 3 May 2024 | Sony announces mandatory PSN account linking on PC |
| 4 May 2024 | Wave of negative Steam reviews, removal of the game in 177 territories without PSN |
| 5 May 2024 | Sony drops the account-linking requirement |
| January 2025 | Sony makes the PSN account optional for its PC games |
| 26 August 2025 | Release on Xbox Series X|S, with cross-platform play |
Sources: Wikipedia (Helldivers 2 and PlayStation Network articles, based on Polygon), consulted on 29 September 2026.
A point that’s often brought up: Steam refunds granted beyond the usual two-hour play window. We found no official confirmation from Valve; these remain anecdotal reports from players.
RTBF (iXPé) covered the matter as it unfolded, in May 2024:
RTBF iXPé, “Helldivers 2 nearly died because of Sony and the PSN”, May 2024.
Where do things stand in 2026?
The controversy left its mark on Sony. In January 2025, the publisher announced that the PSN account would become optional for its games on PC, including for titles that were already released, with in-game rewards for those who choose to link it. Helldivers 2, for its part, continued to evolve until its release on Xbox Series X|S on 26 August 2025, with cross-platform play. The Steam page still shows the option to link a PSN account, but it’s no longer required to play.
What PC do you need to play Helldivers 2?
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| System | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Core i7-4790K or Ryzen 5 1500X | Core i7-9700K or Ryzen 7 3700X |
| Graphics card | GTX 1050 Ti or RX 470 | RTX 2060 or RX 6600 XT |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | SSD recommended | SSD recommended |
Source: official Steam page for Helldivers 2, consulted on 29 September 2026.
The recommended setup is a little dated, but the game can get demanding in big battles, with lots of enemies and explosions on screen: that’s where a fast processor makes the difference. Our advice to enjoy it in 2026:
- 1080p: an RTX 5060 or an RX 9060 XT and a recent 6-core processor.
- 1440p: an RTX 5070 or an RX 9070, plus a fast processor, ideally a Ryzen X3D, for intense battles.
- At least 16 GB of RAM, dual-channel, and an SSD.
For choosing your graphics card, see how to choose a graphics card in 2026.
In the biggest Helldivers 2 battles, the processor matters as much as the graphics card.
Our PCs for Helldivers 2
Banger PC: Helldivers 2 in 1080p
Core i5-12400F and RTX 5060: well above the recommended setup for 1080p.
Novara PC: the X3D for big battles
Ryzen 5 7500X3D and RTX 5070: 3D cache to keep FPS stable when the screen fills up.
PC Novara GeForce RTX 5070 12GB
Ryzen 5 7500X3D, RTX 5070 12GB, 16GB DDR5 and 1TB M.2 SSD: a setup that’s ready to play straight out of the box.
FAQ: Helldivers 2 and PSN
Do you need a PSN account to play Helldivers 2 on PC?
No. Sony dropped the requirement on 5 May 2024. Linking a PSN account is still possible, but optional.
Why did PSN account linking cause controversy?
Because it wasn’t imposed at launch, and because PSN isn’t available in many countries where the game had been sold on Steam: players would have been left without access to a game they had bought.
Is Helldivers 2 on Xbox?
Yes, since 26 August 2025 on Xbox Series X|S, with cross-platform play.
What configuration do you need for Helldivers 2 on PC?
Officially, recommended: Core i7-9700K or Ryzen 7 3700X, RTX 2060 or RX 6600 XT, 16 GB of RAM and an SSD.
