Sony has taken a significant step towards inclusivity in the gaming community by lifting regional restrictions on its most popular PlayStation titles for PC. This decision comes in the wake of the successful launch of Stellar Blade on Steam, which has sparked a wave of excitement among gamers worldwide.
For the past year, many PC players expressed their frustration over Sony’s restrictive approach to releasing top PlayStation exclusives on Steam. Iconic titles such as God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered were inaccessible to fans in numerous countries, leaving them unable to purchase these celebrated games solely due to their geographical location.
Previously, Sony had implemented region locks that barred access to significant portions of Africa, Asia, and South America. This decision drew considerable backlash from players who deemed it unfair, particularly since these games do not require an online connection or a PlayStation Network account to play.
Sony Lifts Restrictions, More PlayStation PC Games Unlocked Globally
As of June 13, updates from SteamDB indicate that Sony has quietly removed region restrictions for a range of its most prominent PC games. This pivotal move opens the door for millions of new players to officially access previously restricted titles. The changes were implemented almost simultaneously across several PlayStation games on Steam.
In practical terms, this means that players can now purchase and enjoy God of War Ragnarök, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and Helldivers 2 in a multitude of new countries. However, it is important to note that some regions, including Russia and Syria, remain restricted.
The recent launch of Stellar Blade on PC has proven to be a remarkable success, achieving a peak of over 183,000 concurrent players on Steam, an impressive feat for a single-player game.
Notably, the region lock for Stellar Blade was lifted prior to its launch, and its outstanding performance may have significantly influenced Sony’s decision to unlock additional titles for a global audience.
This update marks a substantial victory for PC gamers who have long felt excluded from enjoying Sony’s acclaimed library. It signals a shift towards greater accessibility, allowing fans around the world to immerse themselves in some of the most beloved games in the industry.