Sony has recently announced a significant change for players of certain PS5 games ported to PC: PSN accounts are no longer mandatory for some titles. This decision comes into effect following the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC on January 30, 2025. Read on to discover which games are affected and learn about the incentives available for those who choose to use their PSN accounts.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Other Games No Longer Require PSN Accounts to Play on PC
Sony is making PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts optional for select PS5 games that have been ported to PC. According to a recent blog post on PlayStation.Blog, this change will be implemented starting with the PC release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on January 30, 2025.
The games that will no longer require a PSN account for their PC versions include Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, and the upcoming PC release of The Last of Us Part II Remastered in April 2025. However, it's important to note that PC ports of other titles such as Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut and Until Dawn still mandate a PSN account.
Incentives for Players with PSN Accounts
While PSN accounts are no longer required for some PC ports, players who choose to sign in with their PSN accounts will receive additional benefits. Sony has stated that "Players who still opt to sign into a PlayStation Network account will also enjoy added benefits like trophies and friend management," along with in-game bonuses for the specified games.
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Early unlock suits including the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit.
- God of War Ragnarok: Access to the Armor of the Black Bear set for Kratos at the first Lost Items chest in the Realm Between Realms (previously only available 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, plus Jordan’s Jacket from Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet as a skin for Ellie.
- Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: Gain access to the Nora Valiant outfit.
Sony has indicated that they may introduce more incentives in the future, as "Game creators at PlayStation Studios will continue to work on bringing more benefits to players who sign up for a PlayStation Network account."
Sony Received Backlash for Forcing Players to Have a PSN Account
In 2024, Sony faced significant backlash after announcing that Helldivers 2 required Steam players to link a PSN account for "safety and security" reasons. This led to Helldivers 2 being delisted in over 170 countries where PSN is not supported. Following widespread complaints and negative reviews on Steam, Sony reversed this decision just three days later, admitting that they are "still learning what is best for PC players."
Similarly, the PC port of God of War Ragnarok in 2024 also received criticism, with users leaving negative reviews on its Steam page. Sony has not provided clear reasons for requiring PSN accounts for their single-player games.
Currently, PSN is only available in around 70 countries, leaving over 170 countries without support. This forces players in unsupported regions to create accounts in supported regions, which involves sharing personal information with a third-party website. This requirement has been a point of contention, especially given Sony's past issues with data breaches.
