Sony Lifts Regional Restrictions for Top Games on Steam
▼ Summary
– Sony removed regional restrictions on four major games (God of War Ragnarok, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, Spider-Man 2, and Helldivers 2) on Steam, making them available in previously restricted countries.
– Sony has not publicly commented on the removal, reflecting its historically cautious approach to releasing PlayStation games on PC despite their financial success.
– A controversial PSN sign-in requirement for Helldivers 2 led to its removal in 177 countries, though Sony later reversed the decision after backlash.
– PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst emphasized Sony’s measured approach to bringing PlayStation exclusives to other platforms, prioritizing quality and player experience.
– The removal of regional restrictions aligns with Sony’s recent policy of making PSN accounts optional for certain games, though the timing may be coincidental rather than influenced by external successes like Stellar Blade.
Sony has quietly lifted regional purchase restrictions for several major PlayStation titles on Steam, making blockbuster games accessible to players in dozens of previously excluded markets. The policy shift affects four high-profile releases: God of War Ragnarok, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, Spider-Man 2, and Helldivers 2. While the company hasn’t officially commented, the changes are visible through SteamDB tracking data.
This move follows Sony’s gradual softening of PlayStation Network requirements for PC releases. Earlier this year, the company made PSN accounts optional for upcoming titles like Spider-Man 2 and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. However, regional restrictions remained in place for areas without PSN support—a puzzling limitation given these games no longer required the service.
The timing coincides with PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst emphasizing the company’s strategic approach to PC releases during a recent presentation. “We’re very deliberate about how we bring our franchises to other platforms,” Hulst stated, highlighting PlayStation’s focus on maintaining quality while expanding accessibility. While not directly addressing the Steam changes, his comments suggest Sony is refining its cross-platform strategy.
Some industry watchers speculated that Stellar Blade’s unrestricted PC launch might have influenced Sony’s decision, though this seems unlikely given PlayStation’s established success on Steam. The more probable explanation involves internal policy reviews following the Helldivers 2 controversy, where Sony initially mandated PSN logins before backtracking after significant backlash.
By removing these geographic barriers, Sony demonstrates growing confidence in its PC distribution strategy. The change benefits both players and the company, expanding market reach while eliminating unnecessary purchase hurdles. As PlayStation continues balancing console exclusivity with multiplatform opportunities, this adjustment suggests a more player-friendly approach to PC releases moving forward.
(Source: PC Gamer)
