The highly anticipated PC release of God of War: Ragnarok has stirred both excitement and controversy among gamers. Slated for a September 19, 2024, launch on Steam, this sequel to the critically acclaimed 2018 reboot brings Kratos and Atreus' journey to a new platform. However, one significant caveat has caught the attention of the gaming community: the requirement to have a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to play.
The Announcement
During the PlayStation State of Play broadcast, Sony Interactive Entertainment confirmed that to dive into the Norse saga on PC, players would need to link their Steam account with a PSN account. This news was further clarified in a blog post by PlayStation, which detailed the game's features and confirmed the account necessity.
Why the Requirement?
The decision to mandate a PSN account for a single-player game like God of War: Ragnarok has raised eyebrows, primarily because the game does not offer multiplayer components that traditionally require online accounts for functionality. Here are some possible reasons behind this move:
- Ecosystem Integration: Sony appears to be pushing for a deeper integration of its services across platforms. By requiring a PSN account, Sony can maintain a unified user base across console and PC, potentially increasing engagement with the PlayStation ecosystem.
- Trophies and Achievements: Like its console counterpart, the PC version will support PlayStation trophies, which are tied to a PSN account. This could be an attempt to keep the achievement system consistent across platforms.
- Data Collection: There's speculation that this is also a strategy for Sony to gather more user data on PC gamers, which could inform future business strategies or game releases.
Community Reaction
The reaction from the PC gaming community has been largely negative. Many feel that requiring a PSN account for a single-player game is unnecessary and an additional layer of DRM (Digital Rights Management) not justified by the game's features. This sentiment is echoed across forums, with players expressing frustration over the need to create yet another account, especially in countries where PSN isn't officially supported, effectively blocking access to the game in those regions.
- Accessibility Issues: Over 170 countries where PSN isn't available will not have access to God of War: Ragnarok on PC. This has sparked discussions on inclusivity and the global reach of gaming.
- Review Bombing: On Steam, the game has seen a wave of negative reviews focusing primarily on this PSN requirement, leading to a "mixed" reception overall.
Workarounds and Mods
In response to the backlash, the modding community has been quick to react. A mod named NoPSSDK has emerged, which completely removes the PSN requirement, allowing players to enjoy the game without the need for a PSN account. However, using such mods can come with risks, including potential bans or game instability.
Looking Forward
Sony's decision might set a precedent for how future PlayStation titles are handled on PC. Whether this move will encourage more gamers to join the PSN or lead to further community pushback remains to be seen. There's hope among the community that Sony might reconsider this policy, especially after the backlash seen with Helldivers 2, where a similar requirement was eventually rolled back.
As God of War: Ragnarok prepares to launch on PC, gamers are at a crossroads. While the game promises to deliver an epic tale with enhanced PC features like ultrawide support and unlocked framerates, the PSN account requirement has undeniably cast a shadow over what should have been a universally celebrated release.
