Some PlayStation PC Games No Longer Require PSN Accounts

Sony has recently announced a significant change regarding the requirement of PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts for playing some PS5 games ported to PC. This policy shift will take effect following the release of Marvel's Spider-Man 2's PC port on January 30, 2025. Dive into the details to understand which games are affected and what incentives are available for those who choose to use their PSN accounts.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 And Other Games No Longer Require PSN Accounts To Play On PC

Sony is now making PSN accounts optional for select PS5 games ported to PC. According to a recent blog post on PlayStation.Blog, this change will start after the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC. The games that will no longer mandate a PSN account for their PC versions include Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, and the upcoming The Last of Us Part II Remastered, set to launch in April 2025. However, other titles like Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut and Until Dawn will still require a PSN account for their PC ports.

Incentives For Players With PSN Accounts

While the PSN account requirement is being lifted for some games, players who choose to log in with their PSN accounts will still enjoy various incentives. Sony has outlined that these players will benefit from added features such as trophies and friend management, along with exclusive in-game bonuses for the specified games.

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Early unlock suits including 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, 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 game creators at PlayStation Studios are working on introducing more benefits for PSN account holders in the future.

Sony Received Backlash For Forcing Players To Have A PSN Account

The decision to make PSN accounts optional comes after Sony faced significant backlash in 2024. The requirement for Helldivers 2 players on Steam to link a PSN account led to the game being delisted in over 170 countries where PSN is not supported. After receiving numerous complaints and negative reviews, Sony reversed this 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 was met with criticism, reflected in negative reviews on its Steam page. Sony has not provided clear reasons for why PSN accounts are necessary for their single-player games.

Currently, PSN is only available in around 70 countries, leaving a vast number of players in unsupported regions at a disadvantage. These players have had to create accounts in supported regions, a process that involves sharing personal information with a third-party service. This has raised concerns among fans, particularly in light of Sony's past data breaches.