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

Sony loosens its grip on PSN account linking for PC games, offering incentives for those who connect.

In a recent PlayStation Blog post, Sony announced a strategic shift, eliminating the PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking requirement for several PC titles, starting with Marvel's Spider-Man 2. This change addresses player concerns regarding the mandatory PSN account connection for single-player games. The impacted titles include Marvel's Spider-Man 2, 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.

While removing the mandatory link, Sony still aims to encourage PC gamers to join its ecosystem. Account linking will now provide in-game bonuses, such as early suit unlocks in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and resource bundles for God of War Ragnarök. These incentives are detailed below:

PlayStation PC In-Game Content Incentives:

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Early access to the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit.
• God of War Ragnarök: Unlock the Armor of the Black Bear set early (previously only accessible in New Game+) and receive a resource bundle (500 Hacksilver and 250 XP).
• The Last of Us Part II Remastered: Receive +50 points to activate bonus features and unlock Ellie's Jordan's Jacket skin.
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: Unlock the Nora Valiant outfit.

Sony plans to expand these benefits in collaboration with PlayStation Studios developers. While trophy support and friend management remain account-linked benefits, the company hasn't confirmed whether other PC games will follow suit in dropping the PSN requirement.

The reception to Sony's PC gaming strategy has been mixed. While many welcome the official availability of previously console-exclusive titles, the mandatory PSN account requirement drew criticism, particularly in regions where PSN isn't available. This was notably highlighted by the initial, short-lived PSN requirement for Helldivers 2 on Steam last year, which Sony quickly reversed.