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

Lost Soul Aside, the highly anticipated Sony-published action RPG, will reportedly launch on PC in 2025 without the controversial PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking requirement. This decision marks a significant shift from Sony's previous policy and opens the game's market to over 100 countries previously unsupported by PSN.

Developed by UltiZeroGames, Lost Soul Aside emerged from PlayStation's China Hero Project. This Devil May Cry-inspired hack-and-slash title has been in development for nearly nine years. While Sony is publishing the game on both PS5 and PC, the company's previous mandate for PSN linking on PC titles had drawn considerable criticism. This requirement severely limited the game's potential reach and sales in regions lacking PSN support.

The removal of the PSN linking requirement was initially noted on Lost Soul Aside's Steam page. While initially listed, the requirement was swiftly removed within a day of the game's December 2024 gameplay trailer release, as evidenced by SteamDB update history.

A Second Instance of PSN Linking Backtracking

This marks the second instance of Sony reversing its PSN linking policy for PC releases, the first being Helldivers 2. Following the backlash surrounding Helldivers 2, many assumed PSN linking would be a standard requirement for all future PlayStation PC titles. Lost Soul Aside's exemption suggests a more flexible approach from Sony.

The reasons behind this decision remain unclear. However, it's speculated that Sony aims to maximize Lost Soul Aside's player base and sales potential. The underperformance of several PlayStation PC titles following the implementation of PSN linking, notably God of War Ragnarök, which saw significantly fewer Steam players than its predecessor, may have influenced this change. The removal of this barrier will undoubtedly benefit players in previously inaccessible markets.