Sony PlayStation Network Sign-in Becomes Optional, In-game Content Incentives Added for PC Titles

[T0@st]

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. Details on new benefits for players who opt to sign in with an account for PlayStation Network can be read below.




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. You can find more details on account sign-in at our website.

Thank you to our PlayStation PC fans around the world for your support.

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[Baba]

So this will go away tomorrow?
From Steam:
Requires 3rd-Party Account: PlayStation Network (Supports Linking to Steam Account)

Requires agreement to a 3rd-party EULA

I just noticed it's only for those titles. I don't understand why limit it to those titles only. If I need an account even for 1 game, I already have an account and it does not matter if the rest don't require it. But it's a good start. Maybe Ubisoft and EA will start requiring their stupid launchers to be linked.

 

[londiste]

I wonder if that also means the games will be available in regions where these have not been available?

 

[happytohear]

I'm actually impressed Sony listened and they appear to move away from mandatory PSN accounts for PC ports.

 

[Heiro78]

I'm actually impressed Sony listened and they appear to move away from mandatory PSN accounts for PC ports.

Only for these new titles. It could be a trial run to see which makes them more money. The countries that Steam didn't allow their games to be sold since there was no PSN or that sweet sweet data

 

[AsRock]

So this will go away tomorrow?
From Steam:
Requires 3rd-Party Account: PlayStation Network (Supports Linking to Steam Account)

Requires agreement to a 3rd-party EULA

I just noticed it's only for those titles. I don't understand why limit it to those titles only. If I need an account even for 1 game, I already have an account and it does not matter if the rest don't require it. But it's a good start. Maybe Ubisoft and EA will start requiring their stupid launchers to be linked.

Then they ignore you if you want to unlink or even ban you some say, and steam claims they cannot do any thing which is total bullshit.

SONY said unlink in game, go in HD2 no option in game to do so.

 

[friocasa]

The optional sign in is appreciated

Now bring back Japan studio, release Bloodborne in PC and remasters of the old god of war games

 

[lexluthermiester]

Ok Sony, now start bringing your games to GOG in greater numbers. You're missing out on a large area of potential revenue by not utilizing the ardent DRMFree crowd.

 

[AusWolf]

Lucky I haven't started playing GoW:R yet. Now I can do it without a stupid account. Thanks, Sony for finally giving us what we should've got from the start.

 

[Sp33d Junki3]

so just some titles, yet not for Helldivers that sony messed up with.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

so just some titles, yet not for Helldivers that sony messed up with.

Funny that isnt it? they walked back the PSN requirement for that game but still kept all the countries that didnt have PSN locked out of it.

 

[Hyderz]

Good to see Sony is changing their old ways… I remember a lot of old Sony products require you to use Sony’s proprietary magic gate memory cards to store content. I think psp uses it, video cams etc

 

[x4it3n]

It is the right decision. Making it mandatory was really a bad decision. Glad PlayStation/SONY changed their mind.

 

[Lew Zealand]

Ok Sony, now start bringing your games to GOG in greater numbers. You're missing out on a large area of potential revenue by not utilizing the ardent DRMFree crowd.

My immediate reaction. I'm still (mostly) patiently waiting for Horizon Forbidden West at GOG.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I'm still (mostly) patiently waiting for Horizon Forbidden West at GOG.

Right there with you!

 

[Vayra86]

A PSN requirement saves me money and that's all I'm gonna say about it. Ghost of Tsushima ran great btw

Sony... act accordingly

 

[x4it3n]

My immediate reaction. I'm still (mostly) patiently waiting for Horizon Forbidden West at GOG.

That would be awesome but I think they're too scared about people just sharing the game online (even though their games are already cracked online lol).

 

[Bomby569]

honestly i don't mind. I do mind if they sell my data, if it's just for their own use i don't care or mind

 

[TechLurker]

Adding incentives for using/linking a PSN should have been the way to go in the first place. They can afford to have devs make a new freebie every year, eventually building up an entire collection of PSN-exclusive bonuses that would tickle a collector's needs, esp. if they're just cosmetics or accessories.

Of course, Sony could also go back to the logical extreme of gameplay exclusives like special weapons or armor with unique bonuses that's just enticing enough to use PSN, but not so much that they're considered mandatory/game-breaking, somewhat like they did during the PS3 era where a lot of multi-console releases had PS-exclusives that wouldn't be available on Xbox or PC for months to a year. Except instead just lock it all behind a PSN requirement instead so that it's technically available day-1 on PC and Xbox. Not to the degree of withholding entire maps or special missions of course (like they infamously did with Destiny 1). Yeah, the latter would be bad from a fair play perspective, but if either wants to court players through exclusives, so be it. Technically Sony needs to be more competitive somehow as they're fighting both Xbox and PC, and like I mentioned, they were pretty cutthroat about it in the PS3 and early PS4 generation with timed exclusives.

It doesn't affect me any more than it already has though. If it's about data sales, both already have my data twice over; MS via the Xbox accounts they absorbed and a regular MS Windows account, and Sony through their Sony account and PSN account.

 

[k0vasz]

so, the figures were bad (both new PSN users and PC sales), their out-of-blue forced method did not bring the expected results, and now they're trying something different. good

 

[Lew Zealand]

That would be awesome but I think they're too scared about people just sharing the game online (even though their games are already cracked online lol).

So what's the difference between this any any other GOG game? HZD and God of War are also available from GOG, what's the pirating status of those?

 

[AusWolf]

so, the figures were bad (both new PSN users and PC sales), their out-of-blue forced method did not bring the expected results, and now they're trying something different. good

I never understood why PSN had to exist on PC in the first place. What's the point?

 

[YellowSnowEater]

How about instead of giving us stupid ingame stuff, give us fucking cross platform save games?
Sometime it is unbelievable how stupid these publishers are.

 

[londiste]

How about instead of giving us stupid ingame stuff, give us fucking cross platform save games?
Sometime it is unbelievable how stupid these publishers are.

Don't PSN cloud saves require subscription in addition to - obviously - PSN account linked to the game?

 

[YellowSnowEater]

Don't PSN cloud saves require subscription in addition to - obviously - PSN account linked to the game?

Don't know today. It was this way in the past, it's probably still the same. And its wrong.
The thing is, I don't even need cloud saves, I just don't want to put 100h in Horizon FW a second time but simply play NG+ on my PC with better everything.

I mean cross platform saves are such a nobrainer and somehow nobody is even talking about it.