The Last of Us Part II PC Remaster: PSN Account Required, Stirs Controversy
The upcoming PC release of The Last of Us Part II Remastered on April 3, 2025, includes a controversial requirement: a PlayStation Network (PSN) account. This decision, mirroring Sony's approach with other PC ports of formerly PlayStation-exclusive titles, has sparked renewed debate among players.
While the arrival of The Last of Us Part II on PC is exciting news for many, the need to create or link a PSN account is proving a point of contention. The game's Steam page clearly states this requirement, allowing players to link existing PSN accounts to their Steam profiles. However, this detail easily gets overlooked and has caused significant backlash in the past. Sony even reversed a similar PSN requirement for Helldivers 2 last year due to intense player pushback.
Sony's Strategy: Expanding PSN Reach
While PSN account requirements are justifiable for games with multiplayer components (like Ghost of Tsushima), their inclusion in a single-player title like The Last of Us Part II is perplexing. The likely motivation is to encourage wider adoption of Sony's services, a sound business strategy, but one that risks alienating potential PC players.
The PSN requirement presents several obstacles. While creating a basic PSN account is free, the added step of account creation or linking can be frustrating for players eager to start gaming. Furthermore, PSN's unavailability in some regions could effectively prevent access for certain fans, contradicting the accessibility ideals often associated with the Last of Us franchise. This restriction may leave a sour taste for some players.
