Helldivers 2 Celebrates Fan Loyalty with Free ‘Review Bomb’ Cape After Account Linking Controversy

Helldivers 2 Offers Free ‘Review Bomb’ Cape in Tribute to Fan Backlash

Developers at Arrowhead Studios have finally released the long-anticipated ‘Review Bomb’ cape for all Helldivers 2 players, turning a recent controversy into a badge of honor. This special in-game item commemorates the brief but intense backlash from fans last year, when Sony attempted to enforce PSN account linking for PC players, sparking widespread criticism.

The Backstory Behind the Cape

Last year, Sony’s decision to require PlayStation Network account linking for PC players was met with a fierce response from the gaming community. Many fans felt this move was unnecessary and restrictive, leading to a surge of negative reviews and social media outrage. Arrowhead’s CEO, Johan Pilestedt, publicly voiced his disapproval, emphasizing that the developer stood with their community.

In response, fans took matters into their own hands, designing and sharing their own versions of a commemorative cape that symbolized the community’s resilience. These custom capes featured a design resembling a review score graph that plummeted during the controversy, making it a memorable badge of protest and solidarity.

The Official Release of the ‘Pillars of Freedom’ Cape

Now, over a year later, Arrowhead has officially launched the ‘Pillars of Freedom’ cape, available to all players as a free gift. The design is inspired by the community-created versions and reflects the game’s ongoing narrative of defending democracy against alien threats.

According to an in-universe update posted on social media, the developers stated: “In honor of their unquestioning commitment to the defense of Managed Democracy, the Helldivers have been awarded a commemorative cape. The new uniform piece will be available in all Super Destroyer Armories as soon as the rollout is complete.”

The developers added that the cape would be granted to all existing players, with a brief wait for the item to appear in inboxes across platforms.

<h2 Community Reactions and Future Implications

The initial controversy was a challenging moment for Helldivers 2’s community and the development team. However, the release of the cape has since become a symbol of unity and humor among fans. Many players expressed their enthusiasm on social media, praising Arrowhead for turning a negative situation into a positive, memorable event.

• One gamer commented, “Not only is it a special event, but it also looks fantastic. I’ll be wearing this for a long time. For a game without a story, it sure has plenty of stories.”
• Another fan shared, “This is just another example of Arrowhead being the best developers. They actually did it!”
• A third user simply stated, “Madlads indeed.”

<h2 The Ongoing Galactic War and Community Engagement

Meanwhile, last month’s in-game events saw the Federation declare victory over the Illuminate in Helldivers 2’s ongoing Galactic War. Despite this milestone, the community remains active and vocal, with players continuing to defend the key Mega Cities of Super Earth against alien threats.

Overall, the release of the ‘Pillars of Freedom’ cape underscores the strong bond between the developers and their players, transforming a moment of frustration into a celebrated part of the game’s lore.

Alex "Pixel" Petrov

Gaming journalist & industry insider. Covers the latest game releases, updates, and behind-the-scenes dev stories. Knows every Easter egg, patch note, and upcoming title worth hyping. Always gaming, always analyzing.