Tech Desk 
Mar 28, 2025
Helldivers 2, one of the biggest hits, now prevents players with older CPUs from playing. The problem lies in the game's AVX2 (Advanced Vector Extensions) requirement, a feature present in most processors since 2013.
However, some players with older hardware managed to play the game previously because this requirement was not enforced rigorously.
Helldivers 2 blocks players with old CPUs
After an update, players with older CPUs can no longer start the game, even though they have invested hundreds of hours playing since the game's release.
Frustrated gamers have taken to the Helldivers 2 Discord server to complain about being locked out of a game they paid for. One gamer who had 600+ hours of gameplay reported feeling like requesting a refund rather than correcting the problem.
One server moderator, Birby, replied, saying that the AVX2 detection in the game is experimental and can produce false positives. But the moderator also stated that people shouldn't expect a game to run on old hardware. "You shouldn't be surprised if your ancient processor can't run the game," they said.
For most impacted players, an upgrade of their PC hardware is not a simple matter. Because CPUs are many times tied to specific motherboards, they might have to purchase an entire new system merely to play Helldivers 2 once more.
This is not the first time Sony has ruffled PC gamers' feathers. The company attempted to make PSN account linking mandatory for PC gamers last year but later backtracked after a public outcry.
