Sony applies regional lock to another PC release that doesn't require a PSN account.
Sony has established the requirement for players to create a PSN account in order to access Horizon: Forbidden West, nearly a year after its release on PC.
After almost a year since its release, Sony decided to implement a regional lock on the PC port of Horizon: Forbidden West. However, unexpectedly and without prior notice, the company reversed this decision. So far, Sony has not made any statements regarding the regional lock, although it has been clear that it will not remove the PlayStation Network (PSN) account requirements, which restricts access for certain players to video games, as not all countries allow the creation of PSN accounts. A user identified as Mocha Joe discovered the restriction on SteamDB, which triggered widespread reactions in the community.
A comment on the forum expressed disbelief at Sony’s decisions, mentioning how disconcerting it was to see the company inflicting damage upon itself in this generation. This is not an isolated case; in May 2024, the company made a similar decision with Helldivers 2, leading users to flood the Steam page with negative reviews. Subsequently, a couple of weeks later, similar restrictions were imposed on the PC port of Ghost of Tsushima, followed by God of War: Ragnarok.
Sony remains firm in its stance on requiring PSN accounts. While this request is not entirely irrational, as it can be understandable in the case of online service games, it is inconvenient for many. However, the lack of transparency regarding why single-player titles would need an account has created uncertainty among players. Some PlayStation ports for PC include PSN trophies, but others simply track achievements through Steam. It has been argued that this requirement may be aimed at restricting purchases in countries where the global exchange rate makes games much cheaper than in the United States.
Additionally, references have been discovered suggesting that Sony is developing a PC launcher within Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered. Files within the game mention terms like "PSNAccountLinked" and "PSNLinkingEntitlements," which could indicate that in the future, players may have the option to link their PC and PSN accounts.
In many ways, PlayStation has been cautious about the availability of its exclusive games outside of its consoles. However, the strategy has started to change, allowing for the simultaneous release of titles on PC. With projections indicating that Sony's PC revenue is set to triple in 2023, it is clear that the company is making a significant move towards the PC market, although there is still a long way to go, as many games remain restricted to its hardware.
