In recent years, Sony has made significant strides in expanding its footprint in the PC gaming market. The company has successfully transitioned many of its first-party PlayStation Studios titles to Steam, often several months or even years after their initial release on the PlayStation 4 and 5. This strategy has yielded positive results, yet it faced challenges due to Sony’s decision to region-lock its games and remove them from sale in over 170 countries where the PlayStation Network (PSN) is not available, despite these games not requiring a PSN account for play.
Changes in Regional Restrictions
However, recent developments indicate that Sony is beginning to reverse this controversial policy. The appearance of PlayStation titles on Steam has sparked widespread speculation about the lifting of regional restrictions, a notion that was soon substantiated by data from SteamDB, a third-party platform that tracks changes within Steam’s backend. Notable titles such as Helldivers 2, God of War Ragnarök, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 have seen their blacklisted regions removed, allowing these games to be purchased once again in those territories.
Sony appears to be removing regional restrictions on their Steam/PC games God of War Ragnarok https://t.co/WTIWq2tAaV The Last of Us Part II Remastered https://t.co/vOqKcFL1un Spider-Man 2 https://t.co/InWenzyKQL Helldivers 2 https://t.co/oFGJ65nnx0 pic.twitter.com/nslDl07B0R
It was just over a year ago that Sony implemented these region locks, attempting to compel players of Helldivers 2 to create a PSN account to continue enjoying a game they had already purchased. This move prompted a wave of backlash, leading to a review bombing of the co-op shooter. In response, Sony decided against enforcing the PSN requirement but proceeded to delist Helldivers 2 from sale in those regions. Consequently, other PlayStation titles on PC became unavailable in the same territories, regardless of their PSN requirements.
Fans have been vocal in their opposition to this policy for many months, culminating in Sony’s decision to eliminate PSN requirements from four games in January. The recent lifting of region locks marks a significant step forward in addressing player concerns.
It is important to note, however, that not all restrictions have been lifted. Of the original 170+ countries affected, seven remain on the blacklist: Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and Vietnam. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine may explain Sony’s continued absence in Russia, while the reasons for the remaining restrictions remain unclear.
Despite the delays and challenges, Sony’s recent changes signal a positive shift in its approach to regional gaming policies. This newfound flexibility not only enhances accessibility for players in previously restricted regions but also opens the door for increased sales opportunities for the company. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, Sony’s responsiveness to player feedback may prove to be a pivotal factor in its ongoing success in the PC gaming arena.
