Sony has announced a significant shift in its approach to PC gaming by removing the requirement for players to link a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to enjoy some of its titles. This change will begin with the PC release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 tomorrow, indicating that Sony has been attentive to player feedback regarding the previous necessity of a PSN account. The move will also extend to other titles such as The Last of Us Part II Remastered, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. However, it remains uncertain whether this policy change will apply to other single-player PC ports like Until Dawn or Days Gone.

Despite dropping the mandatory account linking, Sony is keen on encouraging PC gamers to join its online gaming ecosystem. The company has introduced new incentives for those who choose to connect their PSN accounts. These perks include early unlocks of suits in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, such as the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit, and a resource bundle for God of War Ragnarök, offering 500 Hacksilver and 250 XP along with the Armor of the Black Bear set for Kratos. Players of The Last of Us Part II Remastered will receive +50 points to unlock bonus features and the Jordan’s Jacket skin for Ellie, while Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered players will gain access to the Nora Valiant outfit.

Sony has expressed its intention to collaborate further with developers under the PlayStation Studios banner to offer more benefits to players who opt for a PSN account. Although there's no confirmation yet on whether other PC games in Sony's catalog will also see the removal of the PSN requirement, the company has emphasized that linking an account provides additional advantages like trophy support and friend management.

The response to Sony's presence on PC has been varied. While many gamers are thrilled to access formerly console-exclusive titles, the PSN account requirement has faced criticism, particularly from players in regions where PSN services are unavailable. This issue came to a head with the Helldivers 2 community last year when Sony announced that Steam users would need a PSN account to play, only to reverse this decision shortly after due to significant backlash.