Helldivers 2 Drops Free Review Bomb Cape—A Legendary Nod to the PSN Backlash
The long-awaited “review bomb cape” for Helldivers 2 has finally arrived—over a year after the infamous PlayStation Network (PSN) account-linking backlash. Arrowhead Game Studios, the developer behind the hit shooter, clearly hasn’t forgotten what happened, even if some players might have.
- The “review bomb cape” is now available for all Helldivers 2 players
- The cape is a nod to the PSN controversy and massive review bombing
- It’s free and can be found in the Super Destroyer Armories
- Arrowhead says it might take a bit to show up in your inventory
Helldivers 2 and the PSN Controversy—Quick Recap
Helldivers 2 launched in February 2024 to critical acclaim and quickly picked up major awards like Best Ongoing Game and Best Multiplayer Game. Everything was going smoothly until May 2024, when Sony announced that PC players would soon need to create a PlayStation Network account to keep playing on Steam. This decision didn’t sit well with the community.
Steam Review Bombing and a Quick Reversal
The backlash was instant. Thousands of players left negative reviews on Steam, tanking the game’s user score. Just two days later, Sony reversed course, announcing they wouldn’t force the PSN account-linking after all. The damage was already done, but the Helldivers 2 team decided to have a little fun with it.
By May 11, creative director Johan Pilstedt was already teasing a “review bomb cape” on Twitter (now X):
— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 11, 2024
The Pillars of Freedom Cape—What Does It Look Like?
Now, after 417 days, the cape is finally here. The new cosmetic, called “Pillars of Freedom”, is available to all players—both on PlayStation and Windows PC. The design is a clever nod to the controversy: it actually features the Steam user review score graph from that period, complete with dramatic red lines representing the flood of negative reviews.
Arrowhead announced the cape’s arrival on their official social media channels:
COMMEMORATIVE CAPE ISSUED
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.
This… pic.twitter.com/DOWaFHU40N
— HELLDIVERS™ 2 (@helldivers2) June 27, 2025
“In honor of their unquestioning commitment to the defense of Managed Democracy, the Helldivers have been awarded a commemorative cape,” the developer shared. “The new uniform piece will be available in all Super Destroyer Armories as soon as the rollout is complete.” Arrowhead also mentioned it might take “some time for the item to arrive” in everyone’s inventory, so if you don’t see it right away, don’t panic.
Free Cape, Happy Ending
Despite the rocky road, players now get a free, unique cosmetic as a reminder of the community’s influence—and a bit of lighthearted fun after a tense moment in the game’s history. If you’re a Helldivers 2 fan, it’s definitely worth logging in to check out your new cape!
