Summary
- The PC version of Lost Soul Aside appears to have dropped the controversial PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking requirement ahead of its 2025 release.
- This change enables Sony to distribute Lost Soul Aside in regions unsupported by PSN, thereby expanding the game's global market reach and sales potential.
- Sony’s decision to waive the PSN link mandate for Lost Soul Aside suggests a more adaptable strategy may be adopted for future PlayStation titles on PC.
New evidence indicates that Lost Soul Aside, an upcoming title published by Sony, no longer requires PC players to link their accounts with the PlayStation Network. This adjustment not only spares PC users from the hassle of PSN linking but also significantly broadens the list of regions where the game can be sold upon its 2025 launch.
Lost Soul Aside stands out as one of the most anticipated indie games to emerge from Sony’s China Hero Project incubation program. Developed by Shanghai-based studio UltiZeroGames over nearly nine years, this hack-and-slash action RPG draws inspiration from Devil May Cry and emphasizes “dynamic combat.” While Sony has funded its development and will publish it on both PS5 and PC, the company faced player backlash last year after enforcing mandatory PSN account linking for PlayStation games released on PC.
With over 100 countries currently unsupported by PSN, PC titles requiring an account link are excluded from these markets, limiting their sales potential. However, Lost Soul Aside appears to break this trend by dropping the requirement. Shortly after its latest gameplay trailer premiered in December 2024, the game’s Steam page launched. Although it initially stated that a PSN account was necessary, records from SteamDB confirm that this mandate was removed just one day later.
Lost Soul Aside Becomes the Second Sony-Published Title to Drop the PC PSN Account Linking Rule
This development will surely relieve PC gamers in regions where PSN is unavailable. It also marks a notable shift for PlayStation games on PC, as the previous instance of Sony reversing its stance occurred during the controversy surrounding Helldivers 2’s account linking requirement. Following that incident, it was widely believed that PSN linking was mandatory for all PlayStation titles on PC; however, Lost Soul Aside’s exemption suggests Sony may be adopting a more flexible approach.
The exact reasons behind this decision remain unclear, but speculation points to Sony’s desire to maximize the game's audience. Since implementing the PSN requirement, PlayStation games have struggled on PC: God of War Ragnarok, for example, garnered less than half the player count of its predecessor on Steam.
