Odd that they backtrack on Helldivers 2, but still decide to make it required for singleplayer games lol
They (Sony) had to for HD2 more or less, since the game literally launched without PSN-required and was being played in 170+ countries PSN wasn't already supported in, before they even decided to finally want to flip the switch to PSN-required - and then everybody flipped-out rightfully so over it b/c they didn't want the change.
Adding requirements extra client-app after launch is just stupid & wrong; the problem was they changed the terms afterwards - even if that was the plan from the jump to support PSN (it was listed as required on the page before launch), it just didn't work out that way (they had issues at launch w/ PSN working, so it was disabled at launch). Plus, Arrowhead and their CEO was also pushing against it hard too.
At least now, Sony's consistent: they just flat-out requiring it on everything from the jump before & at launch. Still dumb of them to do for sure b/c it's still cutting out 170 other countries before launch, as it's literally going to help them lose $ and sales. I dunno - maybe Sony don't expect lots of sales in those 170 countries? [shrug] Or maybe Sony don't care about harvesting data & telemetry-ing users from those countries? Who knows. [shrug]
They really should just make it optional, for those that want Trophies. [shrug]
I'm still waiting for them to start their own PSN PC App, like Microsoft has with Xbox PC App. I'd rather just grab their games there, if they gonna have PSN as a requirement on Steam, Epic, etc. I don't want double-DRM/double-client app whammy b/c they want to require PSN everywhere on PC.
I can hope they'll later want to put their own games still DRM-FREE on GOG (like they did w/ Uncharted 4/TLL: Legacy of Thieves Remastered Collection, Days Gone, God of War 2018), etc. so I can try to avoid PSN PC app if possible - but, who knows now, w/ them wanting to stick PSN PC App on everything.