Sony needs many of its PC players to become console players. That’s why it has decided to take a step forward to get PC players to register for a PlayStation Network (PSN) account. The company will incentivize registration by offering exclusive in-game content and trophy support, with the goal of increasing the number of players joining the platform. This new regime begins with the launch of God of War: Ragnarök, which will offer the Black Bear armor to those who register.
Do it for Kratos
For those who already own the game and decide to create a PSN account, there will be immediate access to content that was previously only available through New Game+ mode. The Black Bear armor can be obtained in the first of the Lost Items chests in the Realm Between Realms, which represents an attractive incentive for some players interested in acquiring additional content.
In addition to God of War: Ragnarök, more PlayStation games will also feature this incentive strategy in the future, including costumes and skins like the Spider-Man 2099 suit for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, an outfit for Ellie in The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and an outfit for Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. This ambitious approach aims to attract a larger user base to the PSN ecosystem.
However, the reception of this initiative has been mixed. Players on social media have expressed that registration on PSN should have been optional from the start, and some have also voiced their concern about a potential regional lockout of games, a frequent complaint from previous releases. Its success will depend on whether users are willing to take an extra step just for a skin that in other cases could have been unlocked more easily.