For once, Sony is finally taking a big step towards fostering a good relationship with the PC side of its gaming ecosystem. In case you missed it, the company has had a problematic relationship with PC gamers due to its PlayStation Network (PSN) requirements for certain games. But it seems like the PC release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is going to shake some things up.
Sony is finally removing the mandatory PSN login for select titles, beginning with Spider-Man 2 on January 30, 2025. We don’t know if this change extends to its entire PC catalog but it’s a big first step and one that gamers will appreciate. In a way, PlayStation is more like Xbox now because true inclusivity is what Xbox is all about these days.
Sony’s approach towards its PC ports has been very restrictive for a long time. Players have been required to sign in and link their PSN accounts, even for single-player titles. You can see where the problem is with this; what about all the countries where PSN services aren’t available? It is just illogical and unreasonable to have these requirements when it just renders the game unplayable in certain places.
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This problem reached a tipping point in 2024 with Helldivers 2 when Sony initially enforced a mandatory PSN login for all PC players. The game was a massive success already and because of the sudden requirement, many players either couldn’t sign up due to regional restrictions or simply didn’t want to create an account for a co-op shooter game.
As you can probably imagine, the community wasn’t happy. The backlash came fast and it hit hard as over 260,000 negative reviews flooded Helldivers 2’s Steam page. The company eventually reversed the decision, but it was just for Helldivers 2 and the damage was already done. It was probably the result of this that led to the recent decision.
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With the launch of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC, Sony is now making PSN linking an optional choice for some of its games. Alongside Spider-Man 2, we’re also getting the same treatment in games like The Last of Us Part II Remastered, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. This means that PC players no longer need a PSN account to access these games.
Despite dropping the PSN requirement, Sony is not abandoning its online ecosystem. Instead of forcing PC players into its network, the company is still giving optional benefits to those who do link their PSN accounts. Players who link their PSN accounts to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will receive early access to the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit.
Of course, Sony’s decision doesn’t mean all of its PC games will immediately follow suit. Titles like Ghost of Tsushima still require a PSN account to play, so we’re not out in the clear just yet. We sure hope the decision gets extended to other games. If Sony is serious about making its platform more accessible, it will need to apply this change across its entire PC library.
Another reason for this change is competition. Microsoft has taken the Xbox brand in a new direction as a service-first platform, focusing on cross-play, cloud gaming, and Game Pass. In contrast, Sony is still focused on its traditional console-centric model. However, as more PlayStation exclusives arrive on PC, Sony needs to realize that hindering games doesn’t help.
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