Sony has announced they will be overhauling the way they handle PC game releases, at least for several single-player games the Publisher has brought to the platform. Sony had previously tried to force membership to their PlayStation Network through account setups, something that received pushback from gamers in the community. In the case of Helldivers 2 for instance it was forgone for release only to be required months later, a situation that even caused some players to lose access to the game in certain regions.
In the case of multiplayer games, there has been at least some understanding of the situation as these games often have cross-play, something a membership can help streamline, however, Sony soon revealed plans to require membership in Single-Player games like Ghost of Tsushima, something gamers on PC largely didn’t see a benefit too.
This process will change for three recently released games and one set to be released in the future. For Titles Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarok, Horizon: Zero Dawn Remastered, and The Last of Us Part II a PlayStation account will not be required, instead, players can sign up to receive benefits for the game.
SVP Head of Publishing Asad Qizilbash stated in a PlayStation Blog post:
Starting with tomorrow’s release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for PC, we’re working to add more benefits to playing with an account for PlayStation Network. The Last of Us Part II Remastered (coming April 3, 2025), in addition to God of War Ragnarök and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, will all soon be adding in-game content unlocks for PlayStation Network account users.
An account for PlayStation Network will become optional for these titles on PC. Players who still opt to sign into a PlayStation Network account will also enjoy added benefits like trophies and friend management.
In the case of Spider-Man 2, for instance, a PlayStation Network account will see players receiving the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 suit earlier than usual. Similarly, God of War Ragnarok will allow for access to the Armor of the Black Bear upon arriving at the lost item’s chest for the first time. The Last of Us Part II Remastered players will gain access to 50 points to activate bonus features as well as Jordans Jacket from Naughty Dogs’ upcoming title Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
This change to the policy seems to offer a shift in Sony’s current plans that will benefit everybody, allowing people who want nothing to do with the service to still play the game, while Sony should still see some sign-ups. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is set to release on PC on January 30th, while The Last of Us Part II will release on PC on April 3rd.
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