Is a PSN account ACTUALLY required? ANSWER: Kind of!

[CheeseBoar]

FINAL EDIT, PROBABLY: I kind of found an answer to my own question! You can check it out in the comment I left here:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/2322010/discussions/0/4843147760499825346/?ctp=9#c4843147950368848211

TL,DR: You do need to log into a PlayStation account, but only a single time. After that, you can log out and stay logged out, and the game will still work.

Here's the original post in its entirety:

I'm looking for a definitive answer on this, because I've heard so many conflicting answers already. I came across this stream:

https://www.youtube.com/live/5BQSPmhQJnY?si=9YH19N5q86mhbje7

...and he clearly isn't logged into a PlayStation account, as you can see on the title screen (where it says "Sign Into PlayStation"), but he's able to play. Other people have said that they get a pop-up saying that a PSN account must be linked to Steam, or the game can't be played.

EDIT: So, it's becoming pretty clear that the PlayStation account requirement is seemingly *completely random.* Some people are forced to log in or get booted to the desktop, and others can just play without ever having had a PlayStation account to begin with. I thought this was a regional thing, but it seems to be differing even for people in the same region.

EDIT 2: I've come to the conclusion that a PlayStation account is absolutely required, there's no way around it. *Linking* the accounts is optional, but the game won't let you even get to the title screen until you've logged into a PlayStation account either via this game or another one.

EDIT 3: Okay, so... I just manually logged out of my PlayStation account using the PlayStation overlay accessed from within the game, and I can still play, even if I exit the game and start it again, online or offline. Even after exiting the game and starting it again, I was able to play without logging in, when yesterday, I was blocked from playing until I logged in again after a restart.

[AcidBreath【Fubuu】]

Yes, but you can use this mod from NexusMods to avoid the login altogether.

https://www.nexusmods.com/godofwarragnarok/mods/22?tab=description

[sirkudjon]

Time will tell. Maybe Sony will come to its senses and eliminate the PSN account requirement. And if not, then I will be buy GOWR for a maximum of PLN 50 equal to what HZD is on sales + possibly try this skip login mod. If it doesn't work, at least I won't spend much on this game.

And I intend to adopt this strategy for every next game that comes out with a PSN requirement. Large discounts + possibly a skip login mod.
I won't buy remaster of HZD nor DG. Not after such ♥♥♥♥ move as this.

[Nikanuur]

引用自 Chris：

引用自 bb10：

They probably have other Sony games where they logged in.

I do have Ghost of Tsushima and was logged in for that but I am not logged in for GoW.
There was no login glitch or anything either the login prompt didn't even appear.
The thought of PSN didn't even cross my mind whilst playing.
I can play freely and after I'm done I can click sign in to PSN and see it is not signed in.
I'm now missing multiple PS trophies that I have on steam so I'd take from that they should unlock on PS account at the same time.

Exactly teh same here. So, that's the whole mystery, I suppose. Thanks. OP, for making it clearer to me (and others).

[Nikanuur]

引用自 CheeseBoar：

引用自 Blackheart6004：

The PSN requirement is only for the PlayStation Overlay by the way, like Ghost of Tsushima.

The PSN requirement is to play Ragnarok at all. If you haven't logged into a PlayStation account via another PlayStation game on the same machine on which you want to play Ragnarok, then you will be required to log into an account to play Ragnarok; if you had logged in before from another PlayStation game, Ragnarok can use that information stored on your machine to log you in without any notification.

We're still not sure if it's a regional thing that's making people experience different things, but the majority of us who had never logged into a PlayStation account on the PC couldn't play Ragnarok at all until we did. It's a one-time thing, but it's there.

I concur. As I said many times before, I wasn't asked about anything PSN when I bought and played GoW:R here. 6 hours of gameplay without so much as a hint.

Only after that I discovered that there is the PSN login in the menu. I went there, clicked, I was asked to manually enter my credentials and press login. Only after that all the usual PSN stuff appeared (and has kept on appearing on every game run since).

But I did login to play Ghost of Tshushima some months agao. that's that. Apparently the PSN login there somehow translated to GoW:R. Probably similar to Gmail account that stays sort of connected for any other apps and web pages that require it, even though you connect "tommorrow" after a new computer start, etc.

[Neoprimal]

Australian, I was not required to login to PSN to play, I still haven't linked my PSN account to the game and i am able to continue playing. I am fairly sure this is a region thing.

[HH375mag]

引用自 🌠Neoprimal：

Australian, I was not required to login to PSN to play, I still haven't linked my PSN account to the game and i am able to continue playing. I am fairly sure this is a region thing.

I believe it is, I had to create an account (which I wasn't allowed to back out from) as soon as I pressed play. I've also heard from several reviewers on YouTube that that it is a regional thing, such as GamingBolt.

Their review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pVCCEtJLbU&t=450s

[CheeseBoar]

The mod from Nexus Mods has been removed from both there and GitHub. I guess Sony *really* wants us to get Trophies in this game.

[Grand Captain Speedy Dash]

引用自 CheeseBoar：

The mod from Nexus Mods has been removed from both there and GitHub. I guess Sony *really* wants us to get Trophies in this game.

Guess Sony hasn't heard that piracy is more of a service problem than a price problem.

[CheeseBoar]

引用自 Grand Captain Speedy Dash：

引用自 CheeseBoar：

The mod from Nexus Mods has been removed from both there and GitHub. I guess Sony *really* wants us to get Trophies in this game.

Guess Sony hasn't heard that piracy is more of a service problem than a price problem.

I mean, the mod didn't even crack the game, you absolutely still had to run it with a) Steam also running, and b) a Steam account that had legitimately purchased the game. It's extremely stupid that a separate account is required essentially just for social media purposes.

[Grand Captain Speedy Dash]

引用自 CheeseBoar：

引用自 Grand Captain Speedy Dash：

Guess Sony hasn't heard that piracy is more of a service problem than a price problem.

I mean, the mod didn't even crack the game, you absolutely still had to run it with a) Steam also running, and b) a Steam account that had legitimately purchased the game. It's extremely stupid that a separate account is required essentially just for social media purposes.

I was saying that Sony is creating a service problem. I also was originally replying to a different post until I realized it was most likely gonna be deleted.

[CheeseBoar]

引用自 Grand Captain Speedy Dash：

引用自 CheeseBoar：

I mean, the mod didn't even crack the game, you absolutely still had to run it with a) Steam also running, and b) a Steam account that had legitimately purchased the game. It's extremely stupid that a separate account is required essentially just for social media purposes.

I was saying that Sony is creating a service problem. I also was originally replying to a different post until I realized it was most likely gonna be deleted.

Ha, you're fine, I knew what you were talking about, and I agree with you. I was just drawing more attention to how stupid the whole situation is.

[Addelee]

I'm playing happily with no sign in. I don't care if I have to either as so many games require publisher accounts (no one seems to care about GTA IV)

[Grat Dalton]

Steam store page says you need PSN account.
This is why the low PC sales compared to God Of War from 2022.
Notice: PlayStation Network Account required, subject to the PlayStation Terms of Services and User Agreement http://www.playstationnetwork.com/terms-of-service

[HYDEXX]

i was about to buy the game then i saw the psn thing......♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ that!!!!

[LAZerTRUMP]

It is very Strange ….from no PSN required (GOW) ,to some online Features and Perks require PSN (Ghost of tsushima) ,to PSN required.

Its allmost, as if the PC Ports are only a vehicle for the Inflation of PSN Member Numbers.

I cant see a reason for this.People are overwhelmingly repulsed or indifferent at best ,when forced to create an Account.