Some PlayStation PC Games No Longer Require PSN Accounts

Sony has recently announced a significant change that will delight many PC gamers: PSN accounts are no longer required to play some PS5 games ported to PC. This decision comes after the upcoming release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC, set for January 30, 2025. Read on to discover which games are affected and learn more about the incentives for those who choose to use a PSN account.

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 certain PS5 games that have been ported to PC. According to a recent blog post on PlayStation.Blog, this change will take effect following the PC release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

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, scheduled for April 2025. However, this change does not apply to all PS5 games ported to PC; for example, PC ports of Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, Until Dawn, and other single-player titles still mandate a PSN account.

Incentives for Players with PSN Accounts

While a PSN account is no longer mandatory for playing these select PC ports, Sony is offering incentives for players who choose to sign in with their PSN accounts. These perks include access to trophies, friend management, and exclusive in-game bonuses. Here’s what you can expect:

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Early unlock of 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 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, plus Jordan’s Jacket from Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet as a skin for Ellie.
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: Access to the Nora Valiant outfit.

Sony has also indicated that PlayStation Studios will continue to develop additional benefits for players who sign up for a PSN account.

Sony Received Backlash for Forcing Players to Have a PSN Account

Sony faced significant backlash in 2024 when they announced that Helldivers 2 would require its Steam players to link a PSN account for "safety and security" reasons. This led to the game being delisted in over 170 countries where PSN is not supported. After receiving numerous complaints and negative reviews on Steam, Sony reversed their 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 drew criticism, with users leaving negative reviews on its Steam page. Sony has yet to clarify why a PSN account is necessary for their single-player games.

Currently, PSN is only available in around 70 countries, leaving many players in unsupported regions at a disadvantage. These players are often forced to create accounts in supported regions, which requires them to share personal information with a third-party service. This has raised concerns, especially in light of Sony’s past data breaches, further fueling fan discontent.