Sony has recently announced a significant shift in its strategy for PC gamers, eliminating the need to link a PlayStation Network (PSN) account for some of its popular titles. Starting with the highly anticipated release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC, this change reflects Sony's response to feedback from the gaming community who found the previous requirement cumbersome. The list of games affected by this policy update includes Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. While it remains uncertain whether this change will extend to other single-player PC ports like Until Dawn or Days Gone, Sony is clearly adapting to player preferences.
Despite dropping the mandatory account linking, Sony is keen on encouraging PC gamers to join its online ecosystem. The company has introduced 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 exclusive resource bundles for games like God of War Ragnarök. Here is a detailed look at the incentives available for PC players:
- 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 also hinted at future collaborations with developers under the PlayStation Studios banner to offer more benefits to players who sign up for a PSN account. While there's no confirmation yet on whether other PC games in Sony's library will follow suit in dropping the PSN requirement, the company emphasizes 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 appreciate the opportunity to play previously console-exclusive titles, the mandatory PSN account linking drew criticism, especially from players in regions where PSN services are not available. This issue came to a head with the Helldivers 2 community last year when Sony initially required Steam users to connect a PSN account, only to reverse the decision shortly after due to significant backlash.
