Sony’s New Move: Region-Free PlayStation Games on Steam
In a significant policy shift, Sony has started rolling back region restrictions for its PlayStation titles available on Steam, as noted by X user Okami13_. Although this change currently applies to a select group of games, expectations are that the list will grow over time.
Since 2020, PlayStation’s first-party games have been gradually introduced to PC gamers through platforms like Epic Games and Steam. According to Sony Interactive Entertainment president Hideki Nishino, this trend is set to continue. However, there had been some dissatisfaction regarding the requirement to link a PlayStation Network account for titles such as HELLDIVERS 2. This requirement effectively barred access in regions where the PlayStation service wasn’t operational.
Progressive Lifting of Region Restrictions
In response to substantial player feedback, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced earlier this year that the PSN account linkage requirement would be removed. This means that while a PlayStation Network account is no longer necessary to play PlayStation games on PC, linking it can still grant access to exclusive content.
More recently, PlayStation Publishing LLC has begun the process of removing regional restrictions for its PC games under its label. Notably, this change initially applies to titles like God of War Ragnarök, HELLDIVERS 2, Horizon: Zero Dawn Remastered, and The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered. While the rollout isn’t complete across all restricted countries, it allows purchases in some regions.
The removal of these restrictions appears to be focused on newer PlayStation titles available on PC. Although Sony hasn’t publicly announced these changes, a comprehensive announcement may be forthcoming. For now, players can access exclusive content without the need for a PSN account. For instance, the Nora Valiant outfit in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and the Black Bear Armor set in God of War Ragnarök are included for those linking their accounts, delivering various in-game advantages. These perks may include resource packs or experience points, enhancing the gameplay experience.