Sony Says You Won't Have to Link a PSN Account to Play Some of Its PC Games Anymore

Sony's PlayStation PC Strategy Shifts: No More Mandatory PSN Linking

Sony is dropping the PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking requirement for several of its PC games, starting with Marvel's Spider-Man 2. This change addresses player concerns about the previous mandate, which required a PSN account even for single-player titles. Games affected include Marvel's Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. The impact on other single-player PC ports remains unclear.

However, Sony isn't abandoning its online ecosystem entirely. For players who do link their PSN accounts, incentives are planned, including early suit unlocks in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and one-time resource bundles for games like God of War Ragnarök. These bonuses are detailed below:

PlayStation PC In-Game Content Incentives:

• Marvel's Spider-Man 2: Early unlock of the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit.
• God of War Ragnarök: Access to the Armor of the Black Bear set (previously only available in New Game+) and a resource bundle (500 Hacksilver and 250 XP).
• The Last of Us Part II Remastered: +50 points to activate bonus features, plus Ellie's Jordan's Jacket skin.
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: Access to the Nora Valiant outfit.

Sony plans to expand these benefits in collaboration with PlayStation Studios developers. While trophy support and friend management remain benefits of account linking, the company hasn't confirmed whether other PC games will also drop the PSN requirement.

The reception to Sony's PC gaming foray has been mixed. While many welcome the availability of previously console-exclusive titles, the PSN requirement sparked significant backlash, particularly in regions where PSN isn't accessible. This was notably highlighted by the short-lived PSN linking requirement for Helldivers 2 on Steam, which was quickly reversed. This latest shift suggests Sony is adapting its strategy to better accommodate PC gamers.