Sony’s Controversial PC Policy Now Blocks Ghost of Tsushima
Sony’s problems with computer games are not over yet. Following a controversy that saw Sony’s port of the popular Helldivers 2 removed from Steam in over 170 countries , single-player samurai game Ghost of Tsushima has undergone the same changes, forcing players to log into their PlayStation Network. accounts to access the game even if they are not playing on a PlayStation console.
Even though Sony has backed down a bit on its stance on Helldivers 2 , the studio appears adamant about limiting PC purchases to countries where its PSN service operates.
The problems began earlier this month when Sony announced that Helldivers 2 PC players would soon be required to link their game to a PSN (PlayStation Network) account. Although creating PSN accounts was free, the game was shut down in over 150 countries, including most of Africa, as PSN does not work in those regions.
Sony eventually reversed the decision to force the previously optional PSN link, but Helldivers 2 remains unavailable for purchase in the countries where it was removed, bringing only a partial victory to disgruntled players: those who already bought the game in those regions. can still play, but new players are now prohibited from joining.
The move left Sony’s PC releases in a foggy state, with no one knowing what would happen next. Sonya’s answer? Take a popular, predominantly single-player game that leaves online integration as a secondary mode, and block purchases in the same countries as Helldivers 2 .
According to SteamDB (which receives information via the Steam API), the PC port of Ghost of Tsushima , scheduled to launch on May 16, will not be available in countries such as Belize, Jamaica and Bangladesh. Japan was also originally on this list, which is odd considering it’s Sony’s homeland and also the setting of Ghost of Tsushima .
Japan was later removed from the blacklist, even Sony added additional countries, including in the Baltics.
Ghost of Tsushima is a special case: Sony previously stated that PSN integration would only be required for Ghost of Tsushima: Legends’ optional multiplayer mode. Despite this, the game as a whole remains unavailable for purchase in affected regions, although PSN does not offer any connection benefits for most single-player content.
Valve is now offering refunds to those in affected regions who pre-purchased the game. It’s unclear whether Sony will continue down this path with other single-player PC ports such as Spider-Man Remastered and The Last of Us Part 1 .