Sony's New PC Game Removes PSN Requirement

Summary

• Lost Soul Aside's PC version has seemingly removed the controversial PSN account linking requirement ahead of its 2025 launch.
• This change will enable publisher Sony to sell the game in countries not supported by PSN, thus enhancing its global reach and potential sales.
• Sony's decision to drop the PSN account linking for Lost Soul Aside could indicate a more adaptable strategy for future PlayStation PC game releases.

Exciting news has surfaced for fans eagerly awaiting Lost Soul Aside, an upcoming Sony-published game. Recent evidence strongly suggests that the PC version of this much-anticipated title has eliminated the need for a PlayStation Network (PSN) account. This shift means that PC gamers will no longer have to link a PSN account to enjoy Lost Soul Aside, greatly broadening the game's accessibility across different regions when it launches in 2025.

Emerging from PlayStation's China Hero Project, Lost Soul Aside is a hack and slash action RPG developed by Shanghai-based UltiZeroGames. With nearly nine years in development, the game has garnered attention for its dynamic combat system, drawing inspiration from the beloved Devil May Cry series. Sony, having funded the project, will publish Lost Soul Aside on both PS5 and PC. However, last year's introduction of mandatory PSN account linking for PlayStation games on PC faced significant criticism from the gaming community.

Over 100 countries lack PSN support, which previously restricted the sales and reach of PC games requiring PSN account linking. Fortunately, Lost Soul Aside appears to be breaking from this pattern. Following the release of its latest gameplay trailer in December 2024, the game's Steam page initially mentioned the PSN account requirement. However, a review of the SteamDB update history reveals that this condition was removed the very next day.

Lost Soul Aside is the Second Sony-Published Game to Drop the PSN Account Linking Rule on PC

This development is a welcome relief for PC gamers in regions without PSN support who are eagerly anticipating Lost Soul Aside. It also marks a significant shift in Sony's approach to PlayStation games on PC, particularly after the contentious PSN account linking issue with Helldivers 2. While the reasons for Sony's decision remain unclear, many believe the company aims to maximize the game's reach. This move follows the underwhelming performance of other PlayStation titles on PC, such as God of War Ragnarok, which saw significantly fewer players compared to its predecessor after the PSN requirement was enforced.