Sony has announced a significant shift in its approach to PC gaming, revealing that players will no longer need to link a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to enjoy certain PC titles. This change, detailed in a recent PlayStation.Blog post, begins with the launch of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC. This move reflects Sony's response to community feedback, as several previously released PC ports will also drop the PSN account requirement. The list of games affected includes Marvel's Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. It remains uncertain how this policy shift will apply to other single-player-focused PC ports such as Until Dawn or Days Gone.
Despite removing the account linking mandate, Sony continues to encourage PC gamers to join its online ecosystem. The company has announced a series of new incentives for those who choose to connect their PSN accounts. These bonuses include early unlock suits for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, such as the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit, and a resource bundle for God of War Ragnarök, including 500 Hacksilver and 250 XP. Additionally, The Last of Us Part II Remastered offers +50 points to unlock extras and Jordan’s Jacket as a skin for Ellie, while Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered grants access to the Nora Valiant outfit. Sony plans to collaborate further with PlayStation Studios developers to introduce more benefits for PSN account holders.
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 also emphasizes that linking a PSN account provides additional perks like trophy support and friend management. The response to PlayStation's foray into PC gaming has been mixed. While many appreciate the official availability of previously console-exclusive titles, the PSN account requirement was met with criticism, particularly in regions where PSN services are not available. This led to significant backlash, notably from the Helldivers 2 community last May when PlayStation initially mandated a PSN account for Steam users, only to reverse the decision shortly thereafter.
