Sony has recently announced a significant change that will delight many PC gamers: PSN accounts are no longer required to play certain PS5 games that have been ported to PC. This update comes as a welcome relief to the gaming community and includes incentives for those who choose to maintain their PSN accounts. Dive in to discover which games are impacted and what perks await PSN users.
Sony Making PSN Accounts Optional For Some PS5 Games Ported To PC
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 And Other Games No Longer Require PSN Accounts To Play On PC
Sony's decision to make PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts optional for select PS5 games on PC was shared via a blog post on PlayStation.Blog. This change will be implemented following the release of the PC port of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, slated for January 30, 2025.
The games that will benefit from this new policy include Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, and the upcoming PC release of The Last of Us Part II Remastered in April 2025. However, it's important to note that other single-player titles like Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut and Until Dawn will still require a PSN account for their PC versions.
Incentives For Players With PSN Accounts
Even though PSN accounts are no longer mandatory for these PC ports, Sony is sweetening the deal for those who choose to sign in with their PSN accounts. As outlined by Sony, "Players who still opt to sign into a PlayStation Network account will also enjoy added benefits like trophies and friend management." Furthermore, they will receive exclusive in-game bonuses:
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Early unlock suits: the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit
- God of War Ragnarok: 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 that PlayStation Studios will continue to develop additional incentives for PSN account holders in the future, ensuring that the perks keep coming.
Sony Received Backlash For Forcing Players To Have A PSN Account
The backdrop to this recent policy shift is the backlash Sony faced in 2024. Initially, they mandated a PSN account for playing Helldivers 2 on Steam, citing "safety and security" reasons. This decision led to the game being delisted in over 170 countries without PSN support, sparking widespread criticism and negative reviews on Steam. Sony quickly reversed this decision just three days later, acknowledging that they were "still learning what is best for PC players."
Similarly, the PC port of God of War Ragnarok faced criticism for requiring a PSN account, with users expressing their dissatisfaction through negative reviews on its Steam page. Sony has yet to clarify why PSN accounts are necessary for their single-player games.
Currently, PSN is only available in approximately 70 countries, leaving a significant number of gamers in unsupported regions at a disadvantage. These players must resort to creating accounts in supported regions, which involves sharing personal information with a third-party service—a move that has raised privacy concerns, especially given Sony's past issues with data breaches.
