Alert: Watch Out for the Helldivers 2 Sale Fraud on Steam
Attention all gamers! A new scam has been exposed on Steam targeting the massive popularity of Arrowhead's Helldivers 2. Stay vigilant and protect yourself from falling victim to this fraudulent scheme.
Recently, two indie games on Steam attempted to deceive players into believing they were purchasing Helldivers 2. The third-person shooter, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios, was released on February 8 and has seen unexpected success. This has led to servers frequently reaching maximum capacity and long wait times for players to join the game. In fact, some Helldivers 2 players stopped logging out to avoid waiting in the queue again due to the overwhelming demand.
As a result of these issues, the Steam rating for Helldivers 2 temporarily dropped from "Very Positive" to "Mixed," although it has since recovered. Arrowhead Game Studios has made efforts to increase server capacity multiple times to accommodate the large number of players, but the game's immense popularity has posed challenges for the indie developer.
Some individuals have taken advantage of the success of Helldivers 2 by attempting to deceive unsuspecting consumers. On March 1, two indie games on Steam were masquerading as Helldivers 2, with various elements effectively concealing their true nature. These games, Figurality by SoleOnBoard Studio and Do Not Smile by Whithole Games, altered their game titles, metadata, descriptions, screenshots, and developer and publisher information to mimic Helldivers 2. Although Steam promptly removed these listings, a few people may have been enticed by their price tags of $12.49 and $19.99.
Twitter article posted by Wario64
How to Spot a Helldivers 2 Scam on Steam
helldivers 2 real steam listing - How to Spot a Helldivers 2 Scam on Steam
Breadcrumb menu at the top of the page
Number of reviews
Extremely discounted price
Incorrect release date
According to information shared by Twitter account Wario64 from SteamDB, two hidden games were added to Steam on November 4, 2023. Their details were both modified around March 1, suggesting they belong to the same owner.
To spot potential fake games in the future, one method is to check the breadcrumb menu above the game title on Steam. For instance, Helldivers 2, published by PlayStation PC LLC, should show a menu trail like: All Games > Action Games > PlayStation Studios Franchise > HELLDIVERS 2. The breadcrumb menus for the fake games did not include PlayStation Studios Franchise. Additionally, the very few reviews and unusual prices could also indicate fake listings. Helldivers 2 is priced at $39.99, and it just launched on February 8, so it's unlikely to have a 50 or 75% discount.
It is concerning that Steam did not have measures in place to stop developers from misleading consumers by altering important information such as the developer and publisher names. Users who clicked on the publisher name on fake pages were directed to the genuine PlayStation Studios page on Steam. This situation is similar to an event in February 2021, where the names of the developer and publisher of Emoji Evolution were changed to "Very Positive" in order to deceive customers. The individual responsible for that deception was quickly banned from Steam.
Editor's P/S:
The article highlights the deceptive practices employed by some indie game developers on Steam to capitalize on the success of Helldivers 2. It's deeply concerning that individuals would resort to such tactics to mislead unsuspecting consumers. Steam's failure to implement adequate measures to prevent these scams is equally alarming. It's essential that platforms like Steam prioritize protecting users from fraudulent activities and ensure that game listings are accurate and transparent.
The incident also raises questions about the responsibility of game developers to maintain ethical standards. While it's understandable that developers may want to promote their games, they should do so in a fair and honest manner. Deceptive marketing practices not only harm consumers but also undermine the integrity of the gaming industry as a whole. It's crucial that developers prioritize transparency and avoid engaging in misleading tactics that erode trust among players.
