Sony Removes PSN Account Requirement for Some PC Games

Sony has announced a significant change in its approach to PC gaming, responding to player feedback by removing the requirement to link a PlayStation Network (PSN) account for some of its PC titles. This shift begins with the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC, set to launch tomorrow. The move reflects Sony's attentiveness to the community's concerns about the previous necessity of a PSN account for playing certain games. The list of games affected by this change includes Marvel's Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. While it's not yet clear how this will affect other single-player PC ports like Until Dawn or Days Gone, the change marks a notable shift in Sony's strategy.

Despite dropping the mandatory account linking, Sony is keen on encouraging PC gamers to join its online ecosystem. The company has revealed new incentives for those who choose to connect their PSN accounts. These perks include early unlocks for suits in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and resource bundles for games like God of War Ragnarök. Here's a detailed look at the incentives:

PlayStation in-game content incentives on PC:

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 - Early unlock suits: the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit.

God of War Ragnarök - Gain access to the Armor of the Black Bear set for Kratos at the first Lost Items chest in the Realm Between Realms (previously only accessible in a New Game+ run) and a resource bundle (500 Hacksilver and 250 XP).

The Last of Us Part II Remastered - +50 points to activate bonus features and unlock extras. Jordan’s Jacket from Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet as a skin for Ellie.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered - Gain access to Nora Valiant outfit.

Sony has hinted at further collaboration with developers under the PlayStation Studios banner to offer more benefits to players who sign up for a PSN account. While there's no word yet on whether other PC games in Sony's library will follow suit in dropping the PSN requirement, the company has emphasized that linking an account still provides additional benefits such as trophy support and friend management.

The response to Sony's PC gaming initiatives has been varied. While many fans are thrilled to access previously console-exclusive titles, the mandatory PSN account linking has been a point of contention, especially for players in regions where PSN is not available. This issue came to a head with the Helldivers 2 community last May when Sony initially required Steam users to connect a PSN account, only to reverse the decision shortly after due to significant backlash.