Sony's God of War: Ragnarök PC Release Sparks Controversy Over PSN Requirement

Sony has announced that the PC version of God of War: Ragnarök, set to release on September 19, will require a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to play. This decision has ignited controversy among PC gamers, who question the necessity of this requirement for a single-player game.

The controversy is reminiscent of a similar backlash Sony faced with Helldivers 2. Initially, Sony required a PSN account for the game, but reversed the decision after receiving negative feedback from players. Despite this precedent, Sony has chosen to enforce the PSN requirement for God of War: Ragnarök.

The game's Steam store page confirms the requirement, stating, 'PlayStation Network Account required, subject to the PlayStation Terms of Service and User Agreement.' This has led to concerns about the game's availability in over 170 countries where Steam is accessible but PSN is not.

Sony's decision to require a PSN account is seen as a way to track player numbers on Steam, providing valuable data for the PlayStation brand. However, this has not alleviated the concerns of gamers who feel that the requirement is unnecessary for a single-player experience.

The PC version of God of War: Ragnarök will include all post-launch content, including Valhalla DLC and New Game Plus mode, and will feature PC-exclusive enhancements like ultrawide support and improved framerates. Despite these additions, the PSN account requirement remains a contentious issue.

Sony has expressed interest in expanding to the PC market in a 'methodical and careful way,' aiming to release PS5 games on PC with a measured cadence. This strategy is intended to give PS5 owners at least a year of preferred access before games are made available on PC.

Time will tell whether Sony will reconsider the PSN requirement for God of War: Ragnarök in response to the backlash. With the release date drawing near, gamers will be watching closely for any updates or changes to this policy.

Key Takeaways

• Sony's God of War: Ragnarök on PC requires a PSN account to play.
• This decision has sparked controversy among PC gamers, citing unnecessary requirement for single-player game.
• PSN account requirement may be for tracking player numbers and providing data for PlayStation brand.
• Game's Steam store page confirms requirement, raising concerns for 170+ countries where Steam is accessible but PSN is not.
• Sony may reconsider requirement in response to backlash, with release date set for September 19.