After the Helldivers 2 community fought a war over the decision to make PSN account linking mandatory for Steam users, Sony finally relented and reversed its decision for good. But despite things returning to normal, game developer Pirate Software is convinced the drama left a lasting impression.

Responding to PlayStation's tweet on May 5, Pirate Software said that Sony's attempts to restrict access to Helldivers 2 had left a "lasting stain" on the publisher as a brand, even though the plan has been canceled. "Many people have little reason to trust Sony going forward," they wrote. Pirate Software called on Sony to "move things around" before they understood its player base, and also stressed that these decisions are never the right choice.

Before Sony backtracked, Pirate Software had urged developers in a series of pointed tweets on May 5 to make sure they know what they're signing up for before working with a publisher. "The last few days of Sony taking apart Helldivers 2 is a stark reminder of the pitfalls of working with a publisher. Make sure you know what you're getting into before you give your game away," they wrote. They also called the situation a "golden goose" that was publicly killed.

For those unaware, on May 3, Sony announced that it would be reinstating the previously suspended linking requirements for Steam accounts to PSN accounts starting May 6 for new Helldivers 2 players, and starting May 30 for players who started playing prior to the announcement.