Lost Soul Aside's PC Release to Skip Controversial PSN Linking
Lost Soul Aside, a Sony-published action RPG slated for a 2025 PC release, has reportedly dropped the controversial PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking requirement. This significant change expands the game's potential market considerably, as PSN support isn't available in over 100 countries.
Developed by UltiZeroGames, Lost Soul Aside is a highly anticipated title stemming from PlayStation's China Hero Project. This Devil May Cry-inspired hack-and-slash game has been in development for nearly nine years. While Sony publishes the game for both PS5 and PC, the company's previous mandate for PSN account linking on PC games sparked significant player backlash. This requirement severely limited sales and player reach in regions without PSN support.
The decision to exempt Lost Soul Aside from this rule is a notable departure from Sony's previous stance. Initially, the game's Steam page listed the PSN requirement, but this was swiftly removed. This marks only the second time Sony has reversed this policy, the first being the widely criticized implementation for Helldivers 2.
While Sony's reasoning remains unclear, the move likely prioritizes maximizing player reach and sales. The poor PC performance of some PSN-linked PlayStation titles, such as God of War Ragnarok, which saw significantly fewer Steam players than its predecessor, may have influenced this decision. This suggests a potential shift towards a more flexible approach for future PlayStation PC releases. The absence of the PSN requirement for Lost Soul Aside offers a welcome relief to PC gamers in previously inaccessible regions and hints at a more adaptable strategy from Sony regarding its PC game distribution.
