Sony is dropping its formerly mandatory PlayStation Network account requirements across a select number of its predominantly single-player titles on PC – but it’s introducing in-game content “benefits” as an incentive to continue using one.
Sony faced a major backlash last May when it announced it would be retroactively making PSN accounts mandatory for Helldivers 2 on PC – and while it eventually relented, that hasn’t stopped it from requiring PSN accounts to play an increasing number of its PC ports since then. It’s a move that’s proven contentious among PC players, particularly given its original justification for PSN accounts on PC – to ensure the “safety and security” of online play – is considerably less convincing when many affected titles are single-player games.
But now, Sony has announced something of a U-turn, confirming it’ll be removing mandatory PSN account requirements from a number of its previously released and upcoming PC titles: God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (which launches this week), and The Last of US Part 2 Remastered (currently due in April).
In all four cases, PlayStation Network accounts will become “optional”, but Sony is still eager enough for players to sign up and log into PSN that it’s announced a new in-game content unlock initiative coming “soon” to the above games on PC.