Sony Game Drops PSN for PC Release

Summary

• Lost Soul Aside's PC version has dropped the controversial PSN account linking requirement ahead of its 2025 launch.
• This significantly expands the game's market reach and sales potential, allowing Sony to sell it in countries without PSN support.
• This decision may signal a more flexible approach from Sony regarding PSN account linking for future PlayStation PC releases.

New evidence confirms that the upcoming Sony-published title, Lost Soul Aside, will launch on PC without requiring a PlayStation Network account. This eliminates a major hurdle for PC players and dramatically increases the game's potential market. Sony will now be able to sell the game in over 100 countries previously inaccessible due to PSN's limited regional availability.

Lost Soul Aside, a highly anticipated action RPG from the China Hero Project, has been in development for nearly nine years by Shanghai's UltiZeroGames. Sony, the game's publisher, has funded its development for release on PS5 and PC. However, Sony's previous mandate for PSN account linking on PC for PlayStation titles drew considerable criticism. This requirement prevented sales in regions lacking PSN support.

Interestingly, Lost Soul Aside's Steam page initially listed the PSN requirement, but this was swiftly removed following the December 2024 gameplay trailer debut.

Lost Soul Aside: A Second Sony Title to Drop PSN Linking on PC

This change is welcome news for PC gamers in regions without PSN access. It also marks a significant shift in Sony's approach to PC releases. The only prior instance of Sony reversing this requirement was during the controversy surrounding Helldivers 2. Following that incident, mandatory PSN linking seemed set in stone, but Lost Soul Aside's exemption suggests a more nuanced policy.

While Sony's reasoning remains unclear, the move likely aims to maximize the game's reach and player base. The mandatory PSN linking policy negatively impacted previous PlayStation PC releases, with God of War Ragnarök achieving significantly fewer Steam players than its predecessor.