Some Playstation PC Ports Drop PSN Account Requirement

Sony has announced a significant change to the requirements for playing some PS5 games ported to PC. Starting with the release of Marvel's Spider-Man 2's PC port on January 30, 2025, players will no longer need a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to enjoy these titles. This decision affects several key games, including Marvel's Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, and the upcoming The Last of Us Part II Remastered, set for release in April 2025. However, other single-player games like Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut and Until Dawn will still require a PSN account.

Despite the removal of the PSN account requirement, Sony is offering incentives for players who choose to sign in with their PSN accounts. These incentives include exclusive in-game bonuses and features such as trophies and friend management. Here are the specific rewards for each game:

• Marvel's Spider-Man 2 - Early unlock suits: 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 hinted at future incentives, stating that "Game creators at PlayStation Studios will continue to work on bringing more benefits to players who sign up for a PlayStation Network account."

This move comes after Sony faced significant backlash in 2024 when they initially required Steam players of Helldivers 2 to link their accounts with PSN for "safety and security" reasons. The decision led to Helldivers 2 being delisted in over 170 countries where PSN is not supported, prompting a wave of negative reviews on Steam. Sony quickly reversed this decision just three days later, acknowledging they are "still learning what is best for PC players."

Similar criticism was directed at the PC port of God of War Ragnarok in 2024, with users expressing their dissatisfaction on its Steam page. Sony has yet to clarify why PSN accounts are necessary for their single-player games. Currently, PSN is only supported in around 70 countries, leaving players in over 170 countries to create accounts in supported regions, a process that involves sharing personal information with a third party. This has raised concerns among fans, especially considering Sony's past issues with data breaches.