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

Sony is loosening its grip on PlayStation Network (PSN) account requirements for its PC games. Starting with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launching tomorrow, players will no longer need a linked PSN account to enjoy several titles. This change also retroactively applies to 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 online ecosystem entirely. For those who do connect their PSN accounts, enticing bonuses are on offer. This includes early access to suits in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and resource bundles for games like God of War Ragnarök. Specifically:

PlayStation in-game content incentives on PC:

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Early unlock of the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit.
• God of War Ragnarök: Unlock the Armor of the Black Bear set (previously only accessible 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, plus Ellie’s Jordan’s Jacket skin from Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: Access to the Nora Valiant outfit.

Sony plans to continue collaborating with PlayStation Studios to offer further incentives for PSN account connections, including features like trophy support and friend management. Whether other PC games will drop the PSN requirement remains to be seen.

The reception to PlayStation's PC releases has been mixed. While many appreciate the wider availability of previously console-exclusive games, the mandatory PSN account linking drew criticism, particularly in regions where PSN isn't readily accessible. This was notably highlighted by the short-lived PSN requirement for Helldivers 2 on Steam, which was quickly reversed following player backlash.