Some PlayStation PC Ports Drop PSN Account Requirement

Sony has announced a significant shift in their policy regarding PSN accounts for some PS5 games ported to PC, making them optional for players. This change will come into effect following the release of the PC port of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on January 30, 2025. Read on to discover which games are affected and the incentives offered to those with PSN accounts.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Other Games No Longer Require PSN Accounts to Play on PC

Sony has made the PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts optional for certain PS5 games ported to PC. According to a recent blog post on PlayStation.Blog, this change will apply to several titles starting with Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Other games that will no longer require PSN accounts include 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, this new policy does not extend to all PS5 ports; for instance, Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut and Until Dawn will still require a PSN account.

Incentives for Players with PSN Accounts

Although PSN accounts are now optional, players who choose to sign in with their PSN accounts will still enjoy exclusive benefits. Sony has outlined several incentives for those who continue to use their PSN accounts:

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Early unlock suits including 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 (previously only available in New Game+), along with a resource bundle of 500 Hacksilver and 250 XP.
• The Last of Us Part II Remastered: 50 bonus 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 also mentioned that game creators at PlayStation Studios are committed to developing more benefits for players who sign up for a PSN account in the future.

Sony Received Backlash for Forcing Players to Have a PSN Account

In 2024, Sony faced significant backlash after announcing that Helldivers 2 would require Steam players to link a PSN account, citing "safety and security" reasons. This decision led to Helldivers 2 being delisted in over 170 countries where PSN is not supported. Following widespread complaints and negative reviews on Steam, Sony reversed this decision just three days later, admitting they are "still learning what is best for PC players."

Similarly, the PC port of God of War Ragnarok in 2024 also faced criticism, with players leaving negative reviews on its Steam page due to the mandatory PSN account requirement. Sony has yet to clarify why PSN accounts are necessary for their single-player games.

Currently, PSN is only available in about 70 countries, leaving more than 170 countries unsupported. This forces players in regions without PSN to create accounts in supported regions, a process that involves sharing personal information with a third-party site. This requirement has been a point of contention, especially given Sony's past issues with data breaches.