Summary
Sonypresident and CFO Hiroki Totoki commented on the controversy surrounding the company’s push to require a PlayStation Network account for its PC ports on Steam. This requirement caused a lot of frustration and resentment towardsSonyin theHelldivers 2community earlier this year, and the release ofGod of War Ragnarokon Steam also raised some pushback from fans wanting to enjoy the title without logging in.
Sony continued its push on PC with various game releases throughout 2024, including a day-and-date launch forHelldivers 2and ports ofGod of War RagnarokandHorizon Forbidden West Complete Edition. It appears that 2025 will follow a similar release pattern with the launch ofMarvel’s Spider-Man 2on Steam in January, and PC gamers have more PlayStation titles to play than ever before. However, the company’s push for PlayStation Network account linking in its PC ports led tosome controversy regardingHelldivers 2, with some fans blaming the company’s decision for the game’s decrease in active Steam players over time. Many believe the account link requirement is cumbersome, and the Sony president shared his thoughts on the community’s pushback during the company’s Q&A portion of its latest financial call.
As reported byGamesRadar+, Totoki discussed that Sony has “learned a lot” about the community’s pushback towardthe PlayStation Network account requirementand how issues may arise on PC. However, Totoki notes that the requirement “helps maintain order” in live service games and lets PlayStation fans enjoy games in a safe online environment on PC. As a result, Sony will “continue to seek the best way” to promote a safe environment, and the account link requirement will remain a cornerstone for this strategy.
Sony President Hiroki Totoki Comments on PlayStation Network Account Requirement and Community Pushback
Totoki’s comments make it clear that PlayStation Network accounts will continue to be required in Sony’s upcoming PC ports, includingMarvel’s Spider-Man 2on Steam, regardless of criticism from players. At the very least, PlayStation fans on PC can expect the same in-game features found on the PS5 versions, including full DualSense compatibility and the ability to earn trophies.
During the same Q&A session,Totoki commented on the failure ofConcord, stating that the company is still analyzing what went wrong with the new IP from the shuttered Firewalk Studios. The Sony president admitted thatConcorddid not have enough user testing and other forms of evaluation during development, and the company’s “siloed” organizational structure may have contributed to the game’s failure.
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