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 potential deterrent.
The Steam page explicitly states the PSN account necessity, allowing players to link existing accounts. This detail, easily overlooked, is a point of contention, echoing past backlash against similar requirements. Last year, the negative reaction to a PSN requirement in Helldivers 2 prompted Sony to remove it pre-launch.
Sony's rationale for the PSN requirement remains unclear. While understandable in multiplayer titles like Ghost of Tsushima (for online features and the PlayStation overlay), its inclusion in the single-player Last of Us Part II is perplexing. It's speculated to be a strategy to expand Sony's user base, a business decision potentially at odds with player sentiment.
While a basic PSN account is free, the added step of account creation or linking is inconvenient. Furthermore, PSN's global availability is limited, potentially excluding some players. This restriction clashes with the Last of Us franchise's reputation for accessibility, potentially alienating a portion of its fanbase.
