Sony Unlocks Major PC Game Titles Globally
In a significant move for PC gamers worldwide, Sony has reportedly lifted regional restrictions for several of its key titles available on Steam. This change, which affects over 177 countries previously unable to purchase these games, signals a potential shift in Sony’s strategy for its growing PC presence.
Titles including the popular co-op shooter Helldivers 2, along with major PlayStation hits brought to PC like God of War Ragnarok, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, can now be purchased in regions stretching from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, according to observations of Steam database changelogs. While Sony has not yet made an official announcement or provided a specific reason for this widespread removal of restrictions, the impact is substantial, opening up these games to millions of new potential players.
Why Were Games Region Locked? The PSN Controversy Connection
The root of the previous regional limitations appears directly tied to Sony’s controversial attempt to mandate PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking for PC players. This policy, notably enforced initially for Helldivers 2, proved problematic in countries where PSN services are not available. Consequently, Sony was forced to remove games requiring PSN access from sale in those regions, leading to significant backlash from the PC community.
The delisting of Helldivers 2 in over 100 countries following the PSN requirement announcement highlighted the friction between console-centric account systems and the global nature of PC gaming platforms like Steam. Sony quickly reversed the mandatory PSN requirement for Helldivers 2 and later for other titles like Spider-Man 2, acknowledging the difficulty of imposing such requirements in regions without PSN infrastructure.
Learning from PC Launches: Stellar Blade’s Influence?
More recently, the PC launch of Shift Up’s Stellar Blade briefly reignited discussions around Sony’s policies. However, the developer worked closely with Sony to ensure the game’s PC release featured an optional PSN login. This approach contributed to a highly successful launch for Stellar Blade, which saw a peak of nearly 200,000 concurrent players in its first week.
Industry observers speculate that the commercial success of Stellar Blade‘s wide release, made possible by avoiding mandatory PSN requirements and navigating regional availability challenges effectively, may have demonstrated to Sony the significant benefits of broader market access. This could have influenced the decision to lift restrictions on previously locked titles like Helldivers 2.
Increased Availability and Remaining Restrictions
As a result of these policy shifts, PC gamers across much of the world can now acquire and play major titles like Helldivers 2 and Stellar Blade without being forced to link a PSN account. For Helldivers 2 specifically, the number of heavily restricted countries on Steam has reportedly dropped dramatically, from over 100 down to a mere eight, with reasons for the remaining locks potentially tied to specific local market conditions (e.g., a distinct version available).
While restrictions have been lifted for a significant portion of Sony’s PC library, it’s important to note that some titles remain heavily restricted in certain regions. Games like Ghost of Tsushima and Until Dawn, also available on Steam, are reported to still face considerable regional limitations. This suggests Sony may be taking a title-by-title approach to these changes, or that specific market conditions dictate different policies for different games.
The removal of these widespread regional locks represents a monumental change for players in affected areas and could substantially expand Sony’s market reach and potential sales in the global PC space, demonstrating an evolution in their approach to publishing on the platform after earlier missteps.
