God of War Ragnarok's PC Steam release has ignited a firestorm of controversy, resulting in a "Mixed" user review score. The root cause? Sony's controversial mandate requiring a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to play the single-player title.
Review Bombing Over PSN Requirement
The PC port, launched last week, currently holds a 6/10 rating on Steam, largely due to a wave of negative reviews. Many fans are expressing their frustration with the PSN requirement, viewing it as an unnecessary intrusion into a single-player experience.
Interestingly, some players report successfully playing the game without linking a PSN account, highlighting inconsistencies in the implementation or perhaps a temporary issue. One review states, "I understand the PSN anger; it's frustrating. But I played fine without logging in. These negative reviews unfairly hurt an amazing game." Another user describes technical problems, stating, "The PSN requirement ruined the launch. The game froze on a black screen; it even falsely registered 1 hour 40 minutes of playtime."
Positive Reviews Amidst the Backlash
Despite the negative reviews, positive feedback exists, praising the game's compelling narrative and gameplay. These players attribute the negative ratings solely to Sony's controversial policy. One such review reads, "Great story, as expected. The negative reviews are almost entirely about the PSN issue. Sony needs to address this; otherwise, the PC version is excellent."
Déjà Vu for Sony
This situation echoes the recent backlash surrounding Helldivers 2, another Sony title that initially demanded a PSN account. Following significant player resistance, Sony reversed its decision for that game. Whether they will do the same for God of War Ragnarok remains to be seen.
