Upcoming Sony-Published Game Drops PSN Requirement on PC

Summary

• Lost Soul Aside's PC version has dropped the controversial PSN account linking requirement ahead of its 2025 release.
• This significantly expands the game's market reach and sales potential, as it removes restrictions in over 100 countries unsupported by PSN.
• Sony's decision suggests a potential shift towards more flexible policies for its PC game releases.

New evidence confirms that the upcoming Sony-published title, Lost Soul Aside, will launch on PC without requiring a PlayStation Network (PSN) account. This eliminates a major hurdle for PC players and dramatically increases the game's potential market. The action RPG, developed by Shanghai's UltiZeroGames, is a highly anticipated product of PlayStation's China Hero Project, blending Devil May Cry inspiration with a focus on dynamic combat. After nearly nine years in development, Sony will publish the game on PS5 and PC.

Last year, Sony introduced mandatory PSN account linking for its PC games, sparking considerable backlash. This requirement barred sales in over 100 countries lacking PSN support, limiting reach and sales. However, Lost Soul Aside breaks this trend. Following the December 2024 gameplay trailer, the game's Steam page initially listed the PSN requirement, only to remove it the following day.

Lost Soul Aside: A Second Sony Title to Ditch PSN Linking on PC

This change is welcome news for PC gamers in countries without PSN access. It's also a significant development for PlayStation's PC strategy. The only previous instance of Sony reversing this requirement was during the controversy surrounding Helldivers 2. Following that incident, PSN linking seemed mandatory for PlayStation's PC titles; Lost Soul Aside's exemption suggests a more nuanced approach.

While Sony's reasoning remains unclear, the move likely aims to maximize the game's player base. Previous PlayStation PC releases saw diminished performance following the PSN linking mandate, with God of War Ragnarök achieving less than half the Steam player count of its predecessor.