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

Sony has announced a significant shift in its strategy for PC gamers, opting to remove the requirement for linking a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to play some of its popular titles on PC. This change, starting with the release of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on PC, reflects Sony's response to community feedback regarding the PSN account linking mandate. The list of games affected by this policy change includes Marvel's Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. While the impact on other single-player PC ports like Until Dawn or Days Gone remains uncertain, this move is a clear step towards making Sony's PC gaming experience more accessible.

Despite dropping the mandatory PSN account linking, Sony is keen on enticing PC gamers to join its online ecosystem. The company has introduced new incentives for those who choose to link their accounts. These bonuses include early unlocks for suits in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and resource bundles for God of War Ragnarök. Below is a detailed list of the incentives available for PC players:

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 has hinted at future collaborations with developers under the PlayStation Studios banner to offer more benefits for those who sign up for a PSN account. While there's no news yet on whether other PC games in Sony's library will follow suit in dropping the PSN requirement, the company emphasized that connecting an account still provides additional benefits like trophy support and friend management.

The response to Sony's presence on PC has been varied. While many gamers appreciate the opportunity to play formerly console-exclusive titles on PC, the mandatory PSN account linking faced criticism, especially in regions where PSN is not available. The controversy reached a peak with the Helldivers 2 community last May when Sony initially required Steam users to connect a PSN account, only to retract this decision shortly after due to widespread backlash.