PlayStation PC games going DRM-free

Sony loosens its grip on PSN account linking for PC games, offering incentives for those who connect.

In a recent PlayStation Blog post, Sony announced a significant shift in its PC gaming strategy. Starting with the PC release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, players will no longer be required to link a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to play select titles. This change also retroactively applies to previously released PC ports, including The Last of Us Part II Remastered, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. The impact on other single-player PC ports remains unclear.

While removing the PSN requirement addresses player concerns, Sony is still incentivizing account linking. Players who connect their PSN accounts will receive exclusive in-game bonuses, such as early access to suits in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and resource bundles for games like God of War Ragnarök. These incentives are detailed below:

PlayStation PC In-Game Content Incentives:

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Early unlock of the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit.
• God of War Ragnarök: Access to the Armor of the Black Bear set (previously only available 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, unlocking extras including Ellie's Jordan's Jacket skin.
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: Access to the Nora Valiant outfit.

Sony plans to continue collaborating with PlayStation Studios developers to offer further benefits for PSN account connections, including features like trophy support and friend management. However, it remains uncertain whether other PC games will follow suit in dropping the PSN requirement.

The reception to Sony's PC gaming initiative has been mixed. While many appreciate the availability of formerly console-exclusive titles, the mandatory PSN linking faced significant backlash, particularly in regions where PSN is unavailable. This was notably highlighted by the short-lived PSN requirement for Helldivers 2 on Steam last year, a decision Sony quickly reversed.