Summary
Helldivers 2players started a petition calling on developer Arrowhead Game Studios to rehire community manager Spitz. With the recent PlayStation Network account-linking controversy finally at an end, much of theHelldivers 2community has begun to shift focus back to the Galactic War. However, some fans were still dismayed upon hearing of the recent dismissal of Spitz from the official Discord channel and are doing all they can to gather their fellow players in support of the former community manager.
For context, Spitz was one of the community managers for theHelldivers 2Discord channel, who became a controversial figure in the days following the account-linking update announcement. Many players slammed Spitz after he made several comments that they believed disparaged the fans outraged by the PSN account requirement. However, some users forgave the former community manager after he posted a public apology and encouraged PC players toflood theHelldivers 2Steam pagewith negative reviews in the hopes of convincing publisher Sony to retract the requirement. While his advice was arguably intended to help the community channel their feedback, it also reportedly led to his involuntary termination.
Now, someHelldivers 2players are calling for his reinstatement with apetition on change.org. Nicknaming themselves “Spitz’s Roughnecks,” these users believed the eponymous Spitz had done enough to redeem himself. The petition itself specifically called for Arrowhead Game Studios to bring back Spitz as a community manager for the official Discord channel, claiming that Spitz’s suggestion was one of the reasons why so many of them did not refund the game and that he additionally deserved the honor of being canonized inHelldivers 2lore as “General Spitz.”
Helldivers 2 Players Call on Developers to ‘Free Spitz’
At the time of writing, the petition boasts over 3,600 signatures since it was opened. While it’s far from equalling the entirety ofthe devotedHelldivers 2player base, the petition has notably only been active for a day, and more divers are signing on. It was additionally shared on the official Discord channel amid cries from users to “free Spitz.”
WhileSony backtracked onHelldivers 2’s account-linking update, there are still lingering tensions from the incident. Notably, Arrowhead Game Studios CEO Johan Pilestedt previously expressed how the controversy had deeply affected him and his team, and how its eventual resolution was a welcome relief. There are also players still wondering ifHelldivers 2will return to the dozens of countries where it was delisted from Steam, though reports from other users indicated that the title has already returned to some territories.
Despite lingering tensions between the studio and the player base, it seems theHelldivers 2community is healing. With any luck, the controversy will provide a clear lesson to both developers and publishers, and future updates won’t distract players fromHelldivers 2’s Major Ordersand the continuous war to spread managed democracy.
Helldivers 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Do you believe in freedom? Can you stand in the face of oppression – and defend the defenceless? Wage war for peace. Die for democracy.Join forces with up to three friends and wreak havoc on an alien scourge threatening the safety of your home planet, Super Earth, in this multiplayer co-op shooter for PS5 and PC from Arrowhead Game Studios.Step into the boots of the Helldivers, an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty and Managed Democracy using the biggest, baddest and most explosive tools in the galaxy.Helldivers don’t go planet side without proper backup, but it’s up to you to decide how and when to call it in. Not only do you have a host of superpowered primary weapons and customizable loadouts, you also have the ability to call on stratagems during play.Helldivers 2 features Arrowhead’s best cooperative gameplay yet. Collaboration will be vital: Teams will synergize on loadouts, strategize their approach for each mission and complete objectives together.1Enlist in Super Earth’s premier military peacekeeping force today. We are heroes… we are legends… WE ARE HELLDIVERS.
