Sony Announces No PSN Account Required for Some PC Games

Sony has announced a significant change in its strategy for PC gaming, responding to player feedback by eliminating the need to link a PlayStation Network (PSN) account for some of its titles. This shift will begin with the PC release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 tomorrow. This decision reflects Sony's responsiveness to the gaming community's concerns, particularly those who found the PSN linking requirement cumbersome. The policy change will also apply to other titles such as The Last of Us Part II Remastered, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. However, it remains uncertain whether this adjustment will extend to other single-player PC ports like Until Dawn or Days Gone.

Despite dropping the mandatory account linking, Sony continues to entice PC gamers to join its online ecosystem. The company has introduced new incentives for those who choose to connect their PSN accounts. These bonuses include early unlocks of exclusive suits in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and resource bundles for games such as God of War Ragnarök. Below is a detailed list of the incentives currently available:

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 PlayStation Studios to introduce additional perks for those who opt into a PSN account. While there's no definitive word on whether other PC games will follow suit in dropping the PSN requirement, Sony emphasizes that connecting an account still offers benefits like trophy support and friend management.

The reaction to Sony's PC gaming strategy has been varied. While many appreciate the opportunity to experience PlayStation exclusives on PC, the mandatory PSN account linking has been a point of contention, especially in regions where PSN services are not available. The backlash was particularly notable in the Helldivers 2 community last year when Sony initially mandated PSN account linking for Steam users, only to retract the decision shortly afterward due to significant pushback.