Nearly a year following its launch, Sony implemented a region lock on the PC version of Horizon: Forbidden West. However, in a surprising turn of events, the company lifted the restriction without any official communication. While there has been no public explanation about the region lock, Sony has remained firm in its requirement for PlayStation Network accounts, which can hinder access for players in countries where PSN accounts aren’t permitted.
A user known as Mocha Joe on Resetera was the first to spot the new restriction on SteamDB, igniting a wave of discontent among the gaming community. One user commented, “It’s been frankly baffling watching Sony choose to continually score own goals from the sidelines this gen.”
This incident isn’t isolated—Sony has a history of making controversial decisions that affect players after their purchases. In May 2024, similar restrictions were applied to Helldivers 2, leading to negative reactions on its Steam page. Shortly thereafter, the PC ports of Ghost of Tsushima and God of War: Ragnarok also faced similar limitations.
Despite the backlash, Sony remains steadfast on the necessity of PSN accounts. In some contexts, this requirement may be justifiable, especially for live-service games where online features are critical. Nevertheless, players are questioning why this need extends to purely single-player titles, with many expressing their frustrations.
While specific PlayStation PC games feature PSN trophies, others simply track achievements via Steam. An account is indeed necessary for unlocking trophies, yet some believe the primary purpose is to restrict game purchases in markets where currency fluctuations could lead to significantly lower prices than in the United States.
