Upcoming Sony-Published Game Drops PSN Requirement on PC
Summary
- Lost Soul Aside's PC version will launch in 2025 without the previously announced controversial PSN account linking requirement.
- This significantly expands the game's market reach and sales potential, as it removes restrictions in over 100 countries unsupported by PSN.
- This decision suggests a potential shift in Sony's approach to PSN account linking for future PlayStation PC releases.
New evidence confirms that the upcoming Sony-published title, Lost Soul Aside, will launch on PC without requiring a PlayStation Network account. This eliminates a major hurdle for PC players and dramatically increases the game's potential market, opening access to regions unsupported by PSN.
Lost Soul Aside, a highly anticipated action RPG developed by Shanghai-based UltiZeroGames as part of PlayStation's China Hero Project, has been in development for nearly nine years. Sony, funding its development, will publish it on PS5 and PC. However, Sony's previous mandate of mandatory PSN account linking for PlayStation PC games sparked significant player backlash. This requirement excluded sales in over 100 countries lacking PSN support.
Lost Soul Aside, however, appears to deviate from this policy. Following the December 2024 gameplay trailer, the game's Steam page initially listed the PSN requirement, but this was swiftly removed the following day, according to SteamDB update history.
Lost Soul Aside: A Second Sony Title to Drop PSN Account Linking on PC
This change is welcome news for PC gamers in unsupported PSN regions. It also marks a significant development for PlayStation's PC strategy. Previously, only Helldivers 2 saw a similar reversal following player outcry. The Lost Soul Aside decision suggests Sony may be more flexible with this policy than initially believed.
While Sony's reasoning remains unclear, the decision likely aims to maximize the game's player base and sales. The mandatory PSN linking policy negatively impacted previous PlayStation PC releases, with God of War Ragnarök achieving significantly fewer Steam players than its predecessor.
