Sony PC Game Goes DRM-Free

Lost Soul Aside's PC Release to Skip Controversial PSN Linking Requirement

Lost Soul Aside, the highly anticipated Sony-published action RPG, will reportedly launch on PC in 2025 without the controversial PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking requirement. This significant change expands the game's potential market considerably.

Initially, the PSN linking mandate, implemented last year for PlayStation PC titles, sparked considerable backlash. Over 100 countries lack PSN support, severely limiting the sales reach of games enforcing this requirement. However, Lost Soul Aside appears to be exempt.

Developed by UltiZeroGames, a Shanghai-based studio, Lost Soul Aside emerged from PlayStation's China Hero Project. This Devil May Cry-inspired hack-and-slash title has been in development for nearly nine years. While Sony funds and publishes the game for both PS5 and PC, the decision to forgo PSN linking on PC marks a departure from previous practice.

Following the December 2024 gameplay trailer release, Lost Soul Aside's Steam page initially listed the PSN requirement. However, this was swiftly removed the following day, according to SteamDB update history. This makes Lost Soul Aside only the second Sony-published PC game to drop the PSN linking requirement, following a similar reversal for Helldivers 2.

The reasons for this exemption remain unclear. However, it's speculated that Sony aims to maximize Lost Soul Aside's player base. The poor PC performance of some PlayStation titles following the PSN linking mandate, exemplified by God of War Ragnarök's significantly lower Steam player count compared to its predecessor, may have influenced this decision. This suggests a potential shift in Sony's approach to PSN linking for future PlayStation PC releases. The move is undoubtedly welcome news for PC gamers in regions without PSN support.