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

Sony loosens its grip on PSN account linking for PC games, offering incentives for those who connect.

In a recent PlayStation Blog post, Sony announced a strategic shift, eliminating the PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking requirement for several PC titles, starting with Marvel's Spider-Man 2. This addresses player concerns regarding the previously mandatory PSN account connection for playing certain PC ports. This change affects 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 push for PC gamer integration into its online ecosystem. To incentivize PSN account linking, the company will offer in-game bonuses, including early suit unlocks in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and one-time resource bundles for games like God of War Ragnarök. These incentives 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, unlocking extras including Ellie's Jordan's Jacket skin.
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: Access to the Nora Valiant outfit.

Sony plans to collaborate with PlayStation Studios developers to provide further benefits for players connecting their PSN accounts. Whether this PSN linking requirement will be removed from other PC games remains unconfirmed. The company highlights that account linking provides access to features such as trophy support and friend management.

The reception to Sony's PC gaming strategy has been mixed. While many appreciate the availability of previously console-exclusive titles, the PSN requirement drew criticism, particularly in regions lacking PSN access. This was notably highlighted by the short-lived PSN requirement for Helldivers 2 on Steam, which was swiftly reversed following player backlash.