Summary

  • Earth Defense Force 6 faces backlash for requiring Epic Games Store account on PC, leading to poor reviews and a 27% score on Steam.
  • Fans of the series praise EDF6 on consoles for its content and storyline, while PC players criticize graphics and account requirement.
  • Comparison have been drawn to Helldivers 2 controversy.

Earth Defense Force 6 is already being review bombed by PC players because of one of its requirements. The latest mainline entry into the long-running Earth Defense Force series caused widespread outrage among its player base after users realized the Steam version required a third-party connection to an Epic Games Store account for online play. Now, Earth Defense Force 6 is facing a massive crisis on PC.

Originally released in Japan back in 2022 for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, Earth Defense Force 6 launched globally on July 25. Similar to previous iterations, Earth Defense Force 6 is a cooperative third-person shooter, where players are put into the boots of a brave soldier of the eponymous EDF and tasked with eradicating swarms of alien invaders. Reviews for Earth Defense Force 6 on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 have been mostly positive, with fans of the series praising the game for its rich content and campy but charming storyline.

An Earth Defense Force 6 playing shooting an Android
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However, the PC launch for Earth Defense Force 6 was not as well-received as its console version. The game's Steam page was quickly flooded by negative reviews due to its third-party account requirements, leading to an abysmal 27 percent review score at the time of writing--only three points away from reaching Steam's "Very Negative" rating. While most reviews targeted Earth Defense Force 6 for requiring an Epic Games Store account, other players also criticized the title for its lackluster graphics and poor optimization on PC.

Players Compare Earth Defense Force 6 to Helldivers 2 PSN Controversy

Many players compared the sudden addition of a third-party account requirement to Helldivers 2's PSN account linking controversy, which similarly threatened to upend the reputation of the title and its developer Arrowhead Game Studios. Though the circumstances are not completely the same as Helldivers 2 announced plans to enforce the account linking requirement months after its launch, Earth Defense Force fans were notably just as blindsided by the Epic Games Store account requirement. This was partly because the Steam page for EDF6 did not initially mention the need for an Epic Games Store account and partly because this is also the first entry in the franchise to implement the account linking requirement on PC.

While the addition of an Epic Games Store account might not seem like too much of a hassle, there are reasons why some Earth Defense Force 6 players might be hesitant to touch the platform. Most notably, Epic Games has been repeatedly criticized for allegedly paying millions of dollars to developers to secure exclusives on PC, which users believe is an anti-consumer business practice that does more harm than good for the platform as a whole.

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Earth Defense Force 6 Tag Page Cover Art
Earth Defense Force 6
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Third-Person Shooter
Action
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1
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Released
July 24, 2024
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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Live the future of despair.

2022 AD. The sequel to "EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5" depicts the battle between the EDF and alien life forms that have suddenly attacked the Earth. Players take on the role of an EDF soldier in this third-person shooter in which they must destroy a large number of giant enemies.

Story:
The year is 2024 AD. Mankind has won the long battle against the unknown invaders. The enemy Primers are now gone and peace has returned to Mother Earth. However, the population has shrunk to 10% and the world was on the verge of collapse. The survivors fought against the remaining threats while trying their best to continue their recovery. Three years passed in the year 2027. In a new world without hope, the time has come to once again resist the fate of the Earth.

Save the future of Earth in the new world.
The identity of the invader that has long tormented Earth is finally revealed. A chain of deep despair that strikes in a devastated world for the first time in the series...But your presence as a soldier of the EDF will lead humanity to the greatest joy. Now you must face it with courage and wisdom.

The largest volume in the history of the series. Supports online co-op play.
The largest number of missions and weapons ever included. All missions support online co-op play for up to four players. Take control of four different soldier classes and fight alongside real EDF members from across the country.

ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence
Developer(s)
Sandlot
Publisher(s)
D3Publisher
Multiplayer
Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
Franchise
Earth Defense Force
Genre(s)
Third-Person Shooter, Action