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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Sony announced on January 29, 2025, that a PlayStation Network (PSN) account would be optional for four named PlayStation games on PC: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarök, The Last of Us Part II Remastered and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. Players can access the games without linking PSN, while linking can unlock game-specific bonuses and supported PlayStation features. This is a policy for selected titles—not a blanket change for every PlayStation PC game.
What Sony changed
The change turns PSN linking into an opt-in layer for the four named PC games. Sony paired optional linking with incentives such as in-game items, as well as PlayStation features including trophies and friend management. The exact benefits depend on the title.
Sony’s general PC support guidance still says that some games or features may require players to sign in or link an account. Requirements vary by title and feature, so one game’s policy should not be assumed to apply to another. See Sony’s PC sign-in support page.
Which PC games are covered, and what are the rewards?
Sony’s January 29, 2025 announcement named these four games and their account-linking incentives:
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| Game | PSN status announced | Reward for linking |
|---|---|---|
| Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 | Optional on PC | Early unlocks for the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and Miles Morales 2099 Suit |
| God of War Ragnarök | Optional on PC | Armor of the Black Bear set, 500 Hacksilver and 250 XP |
| The Last of Us Part II Remastered | Optional on PC | 50 points for bonus features and extras, plus Jordan’s Jacket as an Ellie skin |
| Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered | Optional on PC | Nora Valiant outfit |
Sony said Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 would start the rollout with its PC release and that the other titles would receive the benefits subsequently. The announcement describes incentives for linking; it does not say players who decline the link receive those rewards. See Sony’s announcement and reward details.
What “optional” means in practice
For the four announced titles, Sony said an account would not be required to access the PC game. Account linking can matter separately for rewards and PlayStation-connected functions. Distinguish the main game from features such as trophies, friends, overlays and online modes: a title may make one optional while requiring sign-in for another.
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Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut illustrates the distinction. Nixxes says a PlayStation account is optional for the PC game, but starting its Legends mode prompts players to sign in. Sony’s support documentation also identifies Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut as the first PlayStation PC game with the PlayStation overlay. Details are in Nixxes’ account requirements for Ghost of Tsushima and Sony’s PlayStation-on-PC support hub.
How to decide whether to link PSN
- Skip linking if you only want to play a covered game’s main experience and do not need its account-linked rewards or PlayStation features.
- Link an account if you want the listed bonus, supported trophies or friend features, or an online mode that specifically asks for PSN.
- Check the title’s current support page if a prompt appears. It may concern a particular online or PlayStation-integrated feature, or the title may not be covered by the four-game announcement.
- Check regional availability before relying on an account-linked feature. PSN registration and game availability can vary by country; an optional-linking policy does not make every game available in every region.
If a promised reward does not appear, first confirm that the intended PSN and storefront accounts were linked successfully, then check the game’s current instructions and update or restart the game if appropriate. Delivery timing may depend on the title; do not assume every bonus appears immediately. Avoid unlinking casually, since it may affect trophies, friends, rewards or online services. Sony directs players needing account-linking help to PlayStation PC game support.
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Why Helldivers 2 is a separate case
Helldivers 2 was not one of the four games in Sony’s January 2025 announcement. At launch, linking a PSN account on Steam was temporarily optional because of technical issues. Sony and Arrowhead later announced plans to reinstate the requirement, prompting substantial player backlash. That history concerns a live-service multiplayer game and a proposed mandatory link; it does not establish the account policy for the four single-player-focused titles or for every PlayStation PC release. The account-linking history is summarized at Helldivers Wiki; check current, game-specific guidance for present requirements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What account linking does not promise
Sony’s announcement promises game-specific incentives and supported PlayStation features, not a free console copy, cross-buy or universal cross-progression. Linking Steam and PSN accounts also does not transfer game data between PS5 and PC in Helldivers 2, according to Arrowhead’s support article. That specific rule should not be generalized to other games; check each title’s documentation for its own progression system.
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