The Last of Us Part II Remastered's PC release on April 3, 2025, necessitates a PlayStation Network (PSN) account, sparking controversy among potential players. This requirement, also present in previous PC ports of PlayStation exclusives, forces users to create or link a PSN account to play, a decision met with past backlash.
While Sony's move to bring the acclaimed sequel to PC is welcomed, the PSN mandate is a point of contention. The official Steam page clearly states this requirement, allowing users to link existing PSN accounts. This detail, easily overlooked, has ignited frustration among fans, mirroring the negative reaction to similar requirements in past PC ports. The strong backlash against this practice even led Sony to remove the PSN requirement from Helldivers 2 before its implementation.
Sony's Strategy: Expanding PSN Reach
While a PSN account is understandable for games with multiplayer components or PlayStation overlays (like Ghost of Tsushima), its necessity for the single-player Last of Us Part II Remastered is puzzling. This likely reflects Sony's strategy to encourage PC gamers to engage with its services, a business-driven decision that risks alienating players.
Creating or linking a PSN account, though free, adds an extra step for players eager to begin gaming. Furthermore, PSN's unavailability in certain regions presents a significant barrier for some fans, directly contradicting the series' reputation for accessibility. This restriction may prove particularly irksome to players anticipating the game's release.
