Sony is dropping the PSN account requirement on PC, but having one will now unlock in-game content
PC players will no longer require a PlayStation Network account to play Sony’s games
PC players will soon no longer require a PlayStation Network account to play Sony’s first-party games, but having one will now also unlock in-game extras.
With the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for PC on January 30, having a PSN account to play the game will be optional.
That will also be the case with previously released titles God of War Ragnarök and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, plus The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, which will be released on April 3, 2025.
However, Sony will now be offering in-game content unlocks to incentivize players to use a PSN account, which also offer players trophies and friend management.
Players with PSN accounts will receive the following benefits:
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2:
- Early unlock suits: the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit
God of War Ragnarök:
- 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 2 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
“Game creators at PlayStation Studios will continue to work on bringing more benefits to players who sign up for a PlayStation Network account, so be sure to follow studio channels for more information,” said Asad Qizilbash, SVP head of publishing for PlayStation’s studio business group.
Today’s announcement follows confirmation earlier this month that The Last of Us Part 2 on PC would require a PSN account to play.
While this has been the case for some multiplayer titles, such as the now-defunct Concord, the inclusion in strictly single-player titles has previously attracted the ire of players.
Other than the requirement of a second account, the fact that PSN is not available in many countries would, in theory, preclude players in many regions from playing the game.
The backlash to the PSN inclusion in Helldivers 2 was such that Sony itself u-turned and removed the requirement, saying at the time it was “learning what’s best for PC players.”
When the requirement was added for the PC version of God of War Ragnarök, one player even created a mod which removed it, but it was taken down at the creator’s request, in case of action from Sony.
