The Last of Us Part II Remastered's PC release on April 3rd, 2025, necessitates a PlayStation Network (PSN) account, sparking controversy among potential players. This requirement, mirroring Sony's approach with previous PC ports of PlayStation exclusives, has drawn criticism. While bringing the acclaimed sequel to PC is a welcome move, the PSN mandate dampens enthusiasm for some.
The Steam page clearly states the PSN account necessity, allowing players to link existing accounts. This detail, easily overlooked, is a point of contention. Past instances of PSN requirements for PC ports, notably the strong backlash against the initially mandated requirement for Helldivers 2 (later removed), highlight player frustration.
While PSN account requirements are justifiable for games with multiplayer or PlayStation overlay features (like Ghost of Tsushima), their inclusion in a single-player title like The Last of Us Part II is perplexing. This likely aims to encourage PSN adoption among PC gamers, a commercially sound but potentially unpopular strategy.
Although a basic PSN account is free, the added step of account creation or linking is inconvenient. Furthermore, PSN's global availability is limited, potentially excluding some players. This restriction clashes with the Last of Us franchise's reputation for accessibility, potentially alienating a segment of the fanbase.
