The Last of Us Part II Remastered's PC release on April 3rd, 2025, will necessitate a PlayStation Network (PSN) account, a decision sparking controversy among potential players. This requirement, mirroring Sony's approach with previous PC ports of PlayStation exclusives, is proving unpopular.
While the arrival of The Last of Us Part II Remastered on Steam is welcome news for PC gamers, the mandatory PSN account is a sticking point. This follows the 2022 PC release of The Last of Us Part I (remastered), which also required a PSN account. The Steam page clearly states this requirement, allowing players to link existing PSN accounts.
This mandate has generated significant backlash in the past, notably with Helldivers 2, where Sony ultimately relented and removed the PSN requirement following strong player opposition.
Sony's Strategy: Expanding PSN Reach
While PSN account requirements are understandable for games with multiplayer components (like Ghost of Tsushima), their inclusion in single-player titles like The Last of Us Part II is questionable. The likely motive is to encourage PC gamers to engage with Sony's services, a business-driven strategy that risks alienating players.
While a basic PSN account is free, the added step of account creation or linking presents an inconvenience. Furthermore, PSN's global availability is limited, potentially excluding some players from accessing the game. This restriction clashes with the accessibility typically associated with the Last of Us franchise, potentially causing further negative reactions.