Sony has not had an easy year so far. First, the PSN account requirement for games like Helldivers 2 or God of War Ragnarök caused an outcry among fans. Then, when the PS5 Pro was announced, people were shocked by the retail price. But apparently this annual balance sheet is not enough for the PlayStation group.Because now new trouble is looming. If you want to experience Horizon Zero Dawn on the PC for the first time, you have to swallow a bitter pill for some.
The first open-world adventure of the heroine Aloy is still considered a masterpiece today. Accordingly, there will be many people who still have the game on their pile of shame on their home computer.
Both on Steam and on the Epic Store , Sony has now removed the original PC port from sale as a single title. The good news is that you’ll be able to play the technically optimized remaster from October 31, 2024. The bad news is that this means Horizon Zero Dawn as a pure single-player game will also require a PSN account in the future
Aloy now also needs a PSN account
What does this mean for you? A short FAQ from us
Now you probably have questions. Questions that demand an answer, to quote Gandalf the Grey. We’ll try to give you as complete an overview as possible of the new situation:
- Can I no longer buy the original Horizon Zero Dawn? Yes you can! On GOG you can still buy the original. However, you won’t get the remaster if you buy it there, so if you want to upgrade in the future, you won’t be able to do so here.
- I still see Zero Dawn on Steam. What exactly do you mean? Yes, the Zero Dawn store page is still accessible, but you can only buy the original in conjunction with the remaster. Both versions are now linked and will soon be mandatory on the PSN.
- I already own the original, do I now also need a PSN account? No, your version will not be converted to the remaster with the account requirement unless you purchase the upgrade separately. So if you already own Zero Dawn, you’re on the safe side.
Particularly bitter: Anyone who lives in one of the 121 officially unsupported countries will soon no longer be able to play the original Zero Dawn once mandatory account linking is in place.
On Steam, the first effects of the new measure are already becoming apparent. A glance at the user reviews of Zero Dawn shows that the number of negative reviews has skyrocketed in the past two days. Whereas before there were often only four or five negative opinions, now dozens of complaints are pouring in.
User ThatPersonaa is probably the most polite when he writes: “The game looks good and is recommended by my friends, but the publisher decides to get too greedy.”
