The Last of Us Part II Remastered's PC release on April 3rd, 2025, introduces a controversial requirement: a PlayStation Network (PSN) account. This decision, mirroring Sony's approach with previous PC ports of PlayStation exclusives, has sparked renewed debate among players.
While bringing the acclaimed sequel to PC is a positive step, the PSN account mandate is proving unpopular. The official Steam page clearly states this requirement, allowing players to link existing PSN accounts or create new ones. This echoes past controversies, notably with Helldivers 2, where significant backlash led Sony to remove the PSN requirement before launch.
Unlike games with multiplayer components, such as Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us Part II is a single-player experience. The need for a PSN account for a single-player game is perplexing, leading to speculation that Sony aims to expand its PSN user base. While a basic PSN account is free, the added step of account creation or linking presents an inconvenience. Furthermore, PSN's unavailability in certain regions creates a barrier for some potential players, contradicting the accessibility often associated with the Last of Us franchise. This requirement, therefore, risks alienating a segment of the PC gaming community.
