Some PlayStation PC Ports Drop PSN Account Requirement

Sony has recently announced a significant change for gamers, making PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts optional for certain PS5 games ported to PC. This decision comes into effect following the release of Marvel's Spider-Man 2's PC port on January 30, 2025. The affected games include 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 titles such as Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut and Until Dawn will still require a PSN account for their PC versions.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 And Other Games No Longer Require PSN Accounts To Play On PC

Sony's move to make PSN accounts optional for select PS5 games on PC was detailed in a recent PlayStation.Blog post. This change aims to enhance the gaming experience for PC players by removing the barrier of mandatory account creation. However, for those who choose to use their PSN accounts, Sony is offering enticing incentives.

Incentives For Players With PSN Accounts

Players who opt to sign into their PSN accounts will enjoy additional benefits such as trophies and friend management, along with specific 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 indicated that PlayStation Studios will continue to develop more benefits for players who sign up for a PSN account, suggesting that more incentives may be on the horizon.

Sony Received Backlash For Forcing Players To Have A PSN Account

The decision to make PSN accounts optional follows significant backlash Sony faced in 2024. The requirement for a PSN account to play Helldivers 2 on Steam led to its delisting in over 170 countries without PSN support, prompting a swift reversal of the policy just three days later. Similarly, the PC port of God of War Ragnarok received negative feedback for the same reason. Sony's requirement for PSN accounts in single-player games has been a point of contention, especially given the limited availability of PSN in only about 70 countries. This forces players in unsupported regions to create accounts in other countries, raising concerns about privacy and data security, particularly in light of Sony's past data breaches.