A PlayStation Networks account is required; however, the service is limited to a few countries.
The digital merchants in almost 200 countries have withdrawn the forthcoming PC port of Ghost of Tsushima.
When the PC version of Ghost of Tsushima releases later this week, users will need to link to a PSN account in order to play, even if they only want to play the single-player section of the game. This is because the impacted territories are not served by Sony’s PlayStation Network.
Prior Sony adaptations, such as Horizon Zero Dawn and God of War, could be played via PC Gamer without requiring a PSN account.
Earlier this month, Sucker Punch verified that “a PSN membership is necessary for Legends online multiplayer mode and to use the PlayStation overlay.” Playing the single-player game is not necessary.
That appears to have changed in the last week, though, as the game has been taken down from several digital stores and websites like Steam are refunding all pre-orders for Ghost of Tsushima in the 177 impacted areas.
“Unfortunately, your region is blocked from registering a PSN account, and due to an issue beyond our control, the multiplayer modes in Ghost of Tsushima: Directors Cut will no longer be available to play without linking a PSN account,” one store wrote in a statement.
“As a result, we have taken the title down from our store in your area, and we will fully refund any consumers from countries where PSN accounts cannot be created who pre-purchased the game.”
Ghost of Tsushima, the first Sucker Punch game to receive a PC port, was set to launch earlier this year.
It comes months after Sony attempted to coerce users of Helldivers 2 into connecting their Steam accounts to PSN accounts in order to keep playing the game.
Backlash led Sony to reconsider the decision. “Account linking plays a key role in protecting our players and respecting the ideals of safety and security provided on PlayStation and PlayStation Studios titles,” the company stated at the time.
Helldivers 2 is still not available for purchase in regions where the PlayStation Network isn’t available.
