Sony will no longer require players to link a PlayStation Network account to enjoy some of its PC games – but there are a few new bonuses in store for those who do.
The company detailed its shift in strategy in a recent PlayStation.Blog post, explaining that it will drop its PSN account connection requirement starting with the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC tomorrow. It means Sony has been listening to those who have expressed distaste for the demand, as some previously released PC ports will no longer need a PSN account to play. The full list of affected titles includes Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. It’s unclear how the change will impact other single-player-focused PC ports, such as Until Dawn or Days Gone.
Despite this, Sony is clearly still interested in getting PC gamers to opt into its online gaming ecosystem. Alongside the announcement that PlayStation account linking on PC is no longer required, the company confirmed that it will soon offer a handful of goodies to those who do connect their accounts. These include early unlocks for suits in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 as well as one-time resource bundles for games like God of War Ragnarök. You can see the full list of already announced PC incentives below.
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 teased that it will continue to work with developers across the PlayStation Studios umbrella to bring “more benefits to players who sign up for a PlayStation Network account.” There is currently no news about whether other PC games in its library will also drop the requirement. In addition to today’s new in-game bonuses, PlayStation reassured uncertain users that connecting an account also grants access to benefits like trophy support and friend management.
The reception to PlayStation’s presence on PC has been mixed to say the least. While millions of gaming fans are happy to (officially) enjoy experiences that were otherwise locked behind console exclusivity, many have not appreciated the company’s PSN demand. It meant that players needed to have an account and link it in order to enjoy their chosen game at all, even if the title was a single-player game like God of War or The Last of Us. The requirement led to backlash from PC players in territories where PSN is unavailable.
The drama hit the Helldivers 2 community in May of last year when PlayStation announced that Steam users would need to connect a PlayStation Network account to play. The company, however, quickly took back that decision, too, as it reversed course just a few days later.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP.
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