Lost Soul Aside's PC Release to Skip Controversial PSN Linking Requirement

Lost Soul Aside, a Sony-published action RPG slated for a 2025 PC release, appears to have dropped the previously mandated PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking requirement. This significant change will allow Sony to sell the game in over 100 countries unsupported by PSN, dramatically increasing its potential market reach and sales.

Developed by Shanghai's UltiZeroGames as part of PlayStation's China Hero Project, Lost Soul Aside is a highly anticipated hack-and-slash title inspired by Devil May Cry. Nine years in development, the game will launch on both PS5 and PC, with Sony handling publishing duties. However, Sony's previous implementation of mandatory PSN account linking for PC titles sparked considerable player backlash.

The removal of this requirement for Lost Soul Aside was initially observed on the game's Steam page. While the page initially mentioned PSN linking, SteamDB records show this requirement was removed within a day of the December 2024 gameplay trailer's release.

A Shift in Sony's PC Strategy?

This decision marks only the second time Sony has reversed a PSN account linking mandate for a PC release, the first being Helldivers 2. This suggests a potential softening of Sony's previously strict policy. The absence of the requirement will be welcomed by PC gamers in regions without PSN support.

While the reasons behind this change remain unclear, it's speculated that Sony aims to maximize Lost Soul Aside's player base. The poor PC performance of some PSN-linked PlayStation titles, such as God of War Ragnarok (which saw significantly lower Steam player counts than its predecessor), may have influenced this decision. The move could signify a more flexible approach to future PlayStation PC releases.