Lost Soul Aside on PC: PSN Account Linking Requirement Removed

Lost Soul Aside, a Sony-published action RPG slated for a 2025 PC release, has reportedly dropped its controversial PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking requirement. This significant change expands the game's market reach, enabling sales in over 100 countries previously unsupported by PSN.

This decision marks a potential shift in Sony's approach to PC releases of PlayStation titles. The game, a product of PlayStation's China Hero Project, has been in development for nearly nine years by UltiZeroGames. While Sony mandates PSN linking for many of its PC ports, Lost Soul Aside's Steam page initially included this requirement, only to remove it within a day of its December 2024 debut.

This reversal follows a similar incident with Helldivers 2. The initial implementation of mandatory PSN linking for PlayStation PC games faced considerable backlash, impacting sales and player accessibility. God of War Ragnarok's significantly lower Steam player count compared to its predecessor exemplifies this negative trend. Lost Soul Aside's exemption suggests a possible reevaluation of this policy by Sony.

The reasons behind this change remain unclear, but maximizing player reach and sales are likely key factors. The removal of the PSN requirement will undoubtedly benefit players in regions without PSN access, broadening Lost Soul Aside's appeal and potential success. This development also raises questions about the future of PSN account linking for other PlayStation PC titles.