Sony has announced a significant change that will delight many PC gamers: PSN accounts are no longer required to play select PS5 games ported to PC. This decision follows feedback from the gaming community and aims to enhance the gaming experience for a broader audience. Read on to find out which games are affected and what incentives are available for those who choose to use their PSN accounts.
Sony Making PSN Accounts Optional For Some PS5 Games Ported To PC
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 And Other Games No Longer Require PSN Accounts To Play On PC
Sony has decided to make PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts optional for certain PS5 games that have been ported to PC. This change will take effect following the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC, scheduled for January 30, 2025. The games that will no longer necessitate 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 in April 2025. However, PC ports of other titles such as Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut and Until Dawn will still require a PSN account.
Incentives For Players With PSN Accounts
While PSN accounts are no longer mandatory for playing these PC ports, Sony is offering incentives to encourage players to sign in with their PSN accounts. According to Sony, "Players who still opt to sign into a PlayStation Network account will also enjoy added benefits like trophies and friend management." Additionally, they will receive in-game bonuses for the mentioned games:
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 - Early unlock suits: the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit
- God of War Ragnarok - 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 indicated that they may introduce more incentives in the future, as "Game creators at PlayStation Studios will continue to work on bringing more benefits to players who sign up for a PlayStation Network account."
Sony Received Backlash For Forcing Players To Have A PSN Account
In 2024, Sony faced significant backlash after announcing that Helldivers 2 required its Steam players to link with a PSN account for "safety and security" purposes. This decision led to Helldivers 2 being delisted in over 170 countries where PSN is not supported. Following widespread complaints and negative reviews on Steam, Sony reversed their decision just three days later, acknowledging that they are "still learning what is best for PC players."
Similarly, the PC port of God of War Ragnarok in 2024 also received criticism, with users expressing their discontent through negative reviews on its Steam page. Sony has not provided a clear explanation for why PSN is required for their single-player games.
Currently, PSN is only available in around 70 countries, leaving over 170 countries without support. This forces players in unsupported regions to create accounts in supported regions, which involves sharing personal information with a third-party website. This requirement has been a point of contention, especially given Sony's past issues with data breaches.
