PlayStation Games Expand to PC with 'The Last of Us Part 2'

The Last of Us Part II Remastered's PC release on April 3rd, 2025, necessitates a PlayStation Network (PSN) account, sparking controversy among potential players. This requirement, mirroring Sony's approach with previous PC ports of PlayStation exclusives, has drawn criticism. While bringing the acclaimed sequel to PC is a welcome move, the PSN mandate is a point of contention.

The Steam page explicitly states the PSN account necessity, allowing players to link existing accounts. This detail, easily overlooked, has reignited past frustrations. Similar requirements for other PlayStation PC ports faced significant backlash, notably leading Sony to reverse the PSN requirement for Helldivers 2 before its implementation.

Sony's rationale for this requirement remains unclear. While understandable for multiplayer games like Ghost of Tsushima (requiring PSN for online features), The Last of Us Part II is a single-player experience. The need for a PSN account for a single-player game is perplexing, suggesting a strategic move to encourage PSN adoption among PC gamers. Although a basic PSN account is free, the added step of account creation or linking presents an inconvenience. Furthermore, PSN's global unavailability creates accessibility issues, potentially excluding players from certain regions. This restriction clashes with the Last of Us franchise's reputation for accessibility, potentially alienating a segment of the player base.