God of War Ragnarok's PC Steam launch has been met with a mixed reception, largely due to Sony's controversial PSN account requirement. This mandatory linking has triggered a wave of negative reviews, impacting the game's overall user score.

Steam Review Bombing Over PSN Requirement

The game currently holds a 6/10 user rating on Steam, a direct result of review bombing by disgruntled fans. Many feel the PSN requirement is an unnecessary intrusion into a single-player experience.

However, some players report successfully playing the game without linking a PSN account, suggesting inconsistencies in the implementation. One user commented, "The PSN requirement is frustrating, but I played without logging in. It's a shame these reviews might deter others from an amazing game."

Another review highlights technical issues possibly linked to the PSN requirement: "The PSN requirement ruined the experience. The game crashed to a black screen after login, yet it logged 1 hour 40 minutes of playtime – absurd!"

Despite the negative reviews, positive feedback exists, praising the game's quality and attributing the negative scores solely to Sony's policy. One player stated, "The story is fantastic, but the negative reviews are clearly about the PSN issue. Sony needs to address this."

Sony's History of PSN Account Backlash

This situation mirrors the controversy surrounding Helldivers 2, where a similar PSN requirement led to widespread criticism and ultimately a reversal of the policy by Sony. Whether Sony will respond similarly to the God of War Ragnarok backlash remains to be seen.