PSN Unneeded for Select PlayStation PC Games

Sony has announced a significant change for PC players: PSN accounts are no longer mandatory for several PlayStation 5 games ported to PC. Those who do connect their PSN accounts will receive some enticing bonuses. Read on to discover which games are affected and what incentives await.

Sony Makes PSN Accounts Optional for Select PS5 PC Ports

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Others Drop PSN Account Requirement

Following the January 30, 2025, PC release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Sony will make PSN accounts optional for several PS5 PC ports. This was revealed in a PlayStation.Blog post. Affected titles include Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarök, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, and the upcoming April 2025 release of The Last of Us Part II Remastered. It's important to note that PC ports of games like Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut and Until Dawn will still require a PSN account.

Rewards for Connecting Your PSN Account

While PSN accounts are no longer compulsory, players who link their accounts will unlock several benefits. These include access to trophies, friend management, and exclusive in-game bonuses:

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Early unlock of the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit.
• God of War Ragnarök: The Armor of the Black Bear set for Kratos (previously only accessible in New Game+) and a resource bundle (500 Hacksilver and 250 XP).
• The Last of Us Part II Remastered: +50 points to activate bonus features, and Ellie’s Jordan’s Jacket skin from Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: The Nora Valiant outfit.

Sony hints at further incentives, stating that PlayStation Studios will continue adding more benefits for PSN-connected players.

Past Backlash and the Shift in Policy

Sony faced significant criticism in 2024 for requiring PSN accounts for Helldivers 2 on Steam, citing "safety and security." This resulted in the game's delisting in over 170 countries lacking PSN support. Following negative feedback, Sony reversed this decision. Similar backlash occurred with God of War Ragnarök’s PC port. While Sony hasn't explicitly detailed the reasoning behind PSN requirements for some single-player titles, the current move towards optional accounts suggests a response to player concerns.

The limited global availability of PSN (approximately 70 countries) presented significant hurdles for players in unsupported regions, forcing them to create accounts in supported regions—a process many found inconvenient and intrusive. Concerns regarding data privacy and Sony's history with data breaches further fueled the negative response.