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Just when we thought Sony had learned its lesson from the Helldivers 2 debacle last year, they’re back at it again. With less than three months until the launch of The Last of Us Part II Remastered on PC, the gaming giant has confirmed a requirement that’s set to start causing waves of frustration among potential players.
Another day, another reason to question Sony’s decisions. | Image Credit: Naughty DogIt seems that Sony is determined to maintain its iron grip on how players access their games, even if it means potentially alienating a significant portion of its potential playerbase. The requirement in question? A mandatory PlayStation Network account link—a decision that previously sparked one of the biggest controversies in PC gaming history.
And if history has taught us anything, it’s that PC gamers don’t take kindly to unnecessary restrictions, especially ones that completely lock out players from over 100 countries worldwide.
History repeats itself as Sony doubles down
When Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2 launched on PC last year, it quickly became a runaway success. That is, until Sony decided to implement a mandatory PSN account requirement, leading to one of the most spectacular community backlashes in recent gaming history.
And while the review bombing and mass refunds eventually forced Sony to backtrack on their decision for existing players, the victory was bittersweet—the game remains unavailable for purchase in countries without PSN access, effectively maintaining a digital barrier for countless potential players
But here’s the kicker—even after that PR nightmare, Sony has continued to enforce this requirement for their single-player games. More recently, both God of War Ragnarök and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered fell victim to this policy, and now, Naughty Dog‘s latest critically acclaimed masterpiece is next on the chopping block.
What makes this particularly egregious is that PSN is only available in 84 countries, effectively locking out players from over 100 nations from even purchasing these games. That’s right—if you happen to live in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, or countless other nations, you’re out of luck. Want to experience Joel and Ellie’s journey? Too bad, Sony doesn’t want your money.
The real cost of Sony’s stubborn stance
“Sorry! Your country isn’t worthy of our games.” | Image Credit: Naughty DogThe implications of this decision extend far beyond mere inconvenience. By maintaining this restrictive policy, Sony isn’t just losing potential sales—they’re actively pushing players toward less legitimate means of experiencing their games.
And while we absolutely don’t condone piracy, it’s hard not to sympathize with players who are literally being told they can’t legally purchase these games. It’s a problem entirely of Sony’s own making, yet they seem determined to stick to their guns.
This situation becomes even more absurd when you consider that The Last of Us Part II is primarily a single-player experience. The only online component is a leaderboard for the roguelike No Return mode—hardly something that justifies forcing players to create and maintain a PSN account.
What’s particularly frustrating is that Sony has already seen the negative consequences of this approach. The Helldivers 2 controversy led to mass refunds and a severe hit to the game’s reputation; yet here we are again, watching the same story unfold with what’s arguably an even bigger release.
As we approach the April 3 release date, one can’t help but wonder: how many potential players will Sony alienate this time? How many passionate fans will be locked out of experiencing one of gaming’s greatest narratives simply because they live in the “wrong” country?
What are your thoughts on Sony’s continued insistence on PSN account requirements? Should single-player games be exempt from such restrictions? Let us know in the comments below!
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