God of War Ragnarök has made its debut on Steam, but not without controversy. The game has been the target of review bombing as users express their frustration over Sony’s requirement for PC players to link their accounts to a PSN account. As of now, the game holds a “mixed” user score based on nearly 5000 player reviews. Many negative reviews highlight the disappointment of having to connect to a PSN account to play a single-player game.
### The Controversy Continues
Despite the negative backlash, some reviewers have noted that they were able to play the game without linking a PSN account at all. However, the process of creating a PSN account in certain countries has raised concerns, as it may require submitting personal information such as a mobile phone number or government-issued ID to a third-party site for verification. This has led to criticism from players who feel that requiring online features for a single-player game is unnecessary and intrusive.
On the other hand, some positive reviewers acknowledge the frustration surrounding the PlayStation account requirement but emphasize that it did not hinder their gameplay experience. They believe that the negative reviews may deter others from experiencing what they describe as an incredible game.
### Technical Challenges
In addition to the account linking controversy, some players have reported technical issues with the game itself. Complaints range from constant crashes, audio bugs, visual glitches, to low FPS, and difficulty opening the game at all. These technical challenges have added to the frustration of players who were eagerly anticipating the PC release of God of War Ragnarök.
The arrival of God of War Ragnarök on PC promised an upgraded version of the popular PlayStation title, complete with enhanced graphics and new PC-specific features. To celebrate the release, Digital Foundry’s Alex Battaglia spoke with Matt DeWald, lead producer at Sony Santa Monica, and Steve Tolin, technical director of PC port developers Jetpack Interactive. The conversation shed light on the development process and the efforts to bring the game to PC players.
### Gameplay Changes
One notable change in the PC version of God of War Ragnarök is the ability to reduce the frequency of puzzle hints provided by the companion character Mimir. This feature addresses feedback from players who found the hints to be overly frequent in the console version. By adjusting the settings in the “Gameplay Settings” tab, players can now customize their gameplay experience and enjoy a more challenging puzzle-solving experience.
Despite the mixed reception and technical challenges, God of War Ragnarök remains a highly anticipated title for many players. The game’s transition to PC has opened up new possibilities for fans to experience the epic adventure in a different format. As players continue to explore the realms of Norse mythology and battle formidable foes, the controversy surrounding the PSN account requirement serves as a reminder of the complexities of modern gaming and the importance of player feedback in shaping the future of the industry.
In conclusion, the review bombing of God of War Ragnarök on Steam highlights the ongoing debate surrounding account requirements and technical challenges in gaming. As players navigate these issues and share their feedback, developers have the opportunity to address concerns and improve the overall gaming experience for all players.
