The Last of Us Part II Remastered's PC release on April 3rd, 2025, will necessitate a PlayStation Network (PSN) account, a move sparking controversy among potential players. This requirement, also present in previous PC ports of PlayStation exclusives, forces players to create or link a PSN account to access the game, regardless of its single-player nature.

While Sony's expansion into the PC market with titles like The Last of Us Part II Remastered is welcome news for many, the PSN account mandate is a recurring point of contention. The Steam page for the game clearly states this requirement, allowing players to link existing PSN accounts. This policy contrasts with the previous reversal on the PSN requirement for Helldivers 2 following significant player backlash.

While PSN account requirements are justifiable for games with multiplayer components or PlayStation-specific overlays (like Ghost of Tsushima), their presence in a purely single-player title like The Last of Us Part II Remastered is puzzling. This likely reflects Sony's strategy to encourage PSN adoption among PC gamers, a business-driven decision that clashes with past negative player responses.

While a basic PSN account is free, the added step of account creation or linking presents an inconvenience. Furthermore, the PSN's global availability is limited, potentially excluding some players from accessing the PC port. This restriction is especially noteworthy given The Last of Us franchise's reputation for accessibility. The mandatory PSN account remains a contentious aspect of the otherwise anticipated PC release.