When it comes to Sony’s general approach to releasing PlayStation games on PC over the past year, it can be pretty baffling. Despite intense backlash from fans, the company continued to enforce mandatory PlayStation Network (PSN) account requirements on several titles. This move essentially means that games are region-locked, barring access in hundreds of countries worldwide. Fortunately, it appears Sony has finally had a change of heart, perhaps due to Stellar Blade.
The sudden policy shift is believed to have been triggered by the overwhelming success of Stellar Blade on PC. Initially locked due to the same restrictive region-lock policy, the game was eventually made available globally after successful negotiations involving the developer, Shift Up. This turn of events seemingly influenced Sony to reevaluate its approach.
In an unexpected move, Sony has lifted the region-lock restrictions on several major titles without issuing an official statement. Games such as God of War Ragnarok, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and their top-performing live-service game, Helldivers 2, are now accessible for purchase and play in countries that were previously excluded. This marks a significant step toward making PlayStation’s PC catalogue more globally inclusive.
However, not all regions have been unlocked. Some countries, including Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Vietnam, remain barred from accessing Sony’s PC titles. This continued restriction is assumed to be driven by political considerations and regulatory constraints.
Moreover, not all PlayStation games have benefited from this policy change. Titles like Ghost of Tsushima and Until Dawn, for instance, also remain region-locked, with no official word from Sony on whether these too will eventually be made more widely available.
There is also no confirmation yet on whether this signals a broader shift in Sony’s internal policy regarding the controversial push to mandate PSN accounts for PC players. For now, however, fans in many previously locked-out regions can finally enjoy some of PlayStation’s most beloved titles without barriers.
