Summary
- It is a free commemorative cosmetic automatically given to all Helldivers 2 players, requiring no purchases or challenges to obtain.
- Features a unique bar chart design, representing the Steam review bombing campaign, when players successfully protested Sony’s PSN account-linking requirement.
- It represents the strong relationship between Arrowhead Game Studios and their player base.
Fans rejoiced with the arrival of this special commemorative cosmetic in Helldivers 2. The third-person shooter game introduced the “Pillars of Freedom” cape as the newest piece in the game’s wardrobe. Here’s how you can get this special Pillars of Freedom cape while playing Helldivers 2.
What is the Pillars of Freedom Cape?
This commemorative cosmetic item proves to be beyond aesthetics with the meaning it holds. Helldivers 2 Pillars of Freedom cape actually represents the resiliency of the community during the controversy. In May 2024, an issue sparked about the PSN account-linking that led the community to air out their disappointment.
With this, players held a Steam review bombing campaign against Arrowhead and Helldivers 2. Now, they’ve designed the cape to resemble the bar chart containing four red lines of varying lengths. Moreover, the third line extends all the way to the bottom of the cape, replicating the Steam review chart back then.
Due to this, the cape became more known as the “review bomb cape” as teased by its developers and CEO. Instead of brushing the issue under the rug, they gave a clever nod to this feedback from the community. The debate sparked after Sonny announced a requirement to create PlayStation Network accounts for PC players to continue playing.
How to Get the Pillars of Freedom Cape
Arrowhead seems to feel generous by making the Pillars of Freedom cape completely free for all players. Most cosmetic items in Helldivers 2 usually require completing warbonds or purchasing Super Credits. Hence, the automatic distribution of the commemorative cape to all existing players at no cost came as a surprise.
You can get this Pillars of Freedom cape in all Super Destroyer Armories once the rollout finishes. Moreover, you won’t need to complete any specific missions, challenges, or purchase requirements for this. Instead, it will directly appear in your inventory once the distribution begins.
However, it might take some time for some players for the cape to arrive in their inboxes. But surely, they will receive theirs as the distribution process keeps going. Both PlayStation and PC players will receive this cape as a gift to the entire Helldivers 2 community.
The Story Behind the Cape
Perhaps, the story behind the cape stands as one of the most controversial moments in Helldivers 2 history. In May 2024, Sony Interactive Entertainment required Steam Players to create and sign in to a PlayStation Network account. This came as a shock to the PC community who had been playing without an account since its launch in February 2024.
This immediately earned backlash from the gaming community, with PC players launching a massive review bombing campaign. So, they flooded Steam with negative reviews in protest, including Helldivers 2 among the reviewed games. Within a week, it received over 221,000 negative reviews which caused the dramatic user score drop.
Moreover, the situation worsened when Sony delisted the game from Steam in countries where PSN wasn’t available. It angered the community more and strengthened their campaign against Sony’s decision. Later on, Sony backtracked on their decision and no longer required players to link their accounts. Arrowhead celebrated this victory alongside players which led to the creation of this commemorative cape.
Conclusion
Players won’t need to do anything to get the Pillars of Freedom cape in Helldivers 2. Instead, Arrowhead is giving it completely for free to all users across platforms as a way to commemorate their protest against Sony. The design resonates with how things went during the heat of the controversy, reminding players of their hard-fought campaign. Soon, it’ll be in everyone’s inboxes as the rollout progresses.
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Hi there, it’s Stal! If you loved that article, make sure to check out these other articles I’ve written just for you. See you there!
