Upcoming Sony-Published Game Drops PSN Requirement on PC

Summary

• Lost Soul Aside's PC version has dropped the controversial PSN account linking requirement before its 2025 launch.
• This significantly expands the game's market reach and sales potential, as it will now be available in countries without PSN support.
• Sony's decision may signal a more flexible approach to PSN linking for future PlayStation PC releases.

New evidence suggests Lost Soul Aside, an upcoming Sony-published title, will launch on PC without the PlayStation Network account requirement. This means PC players won't need a PSN account to play, and importantly, it opens up sales to numerous regions currently unsupported by PSN.

Lost Soul Aside is a highly anticipated indie action RPG from UltiZeroGames, a Shanghai-based studio, developed under PlayStation's China Hero Project. This Devil May Cry-inspired title, boasting "dynamic combat," has been in development for nearly nine years. Sony, the publisher, will release the game on PS5 and PC. However, Sony's previous mandate requiring PSN accounts for its PC games drew considerable criticism.

PSN's lack of support in over 100 countries severely limited the reach of PC games with this requirement. Lost Soul Aside, however, appears to be an exception. Following the December 2024 gameplay trailer, the game's Steam page initially listed the PSN requirement, but this was quickly removed.

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

This is welcome news for PC gamers in regions without PSN access. It also presents an interesting shift in PlayStation's PC strategy. Previously, only Helldivers 2 saw a similar reversal following player backlash. Lost Soul Aside's exemption suggests Sony may be reassessing its strict PSN linking policy.

While Sony's reasons remain unclear, the decision likely aims to maximize the game's player base. The impact of mandatory PSN linking on PC sales has been notable; God of War Ragnarök saw significantly fewer Steam players than its predecessor.