Sony’s Regional Policy Affects Steam Game Availability in the Philippines

    

In a move that has sparked discussions and disappointment among PC gamers in the Philippines, Sony has made the decision to delist “Ghost of Tsushima” from Steam in the country. This action follows Sony’s new requirement for a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to access certain game features, specifically the Legends mode.

    The issue first came to light with the controversy surrounding “Helldivers 2,” where Sony initially mandated a PSN account for gameplay. Although they later retracted this requirement, the game remained unavailable in regions not supported by PSN. The recent delisting of “Ghost of Tsushima” indicates a continuation of this policy, affecting all non-PSN-supported regions.

    For decades, PlayStation consoles have been officially available in the Philippines, with Filipino players often creating accounts set in other regions to access the PlayStation Network. While not officially supported, this workaround was at least an option. However, the insistence on regional PSN accounts for PC ports of PlayStation games has now become a significant barrier.

    The delisting of “Ghost of Tsushima” is particularly notable because it marks a departure from previous PlayStation releases on PC, which did not require a PSN account. The game, which was available for pre-purchase in many countries, is still accessible in regions like the UK. However, when viewed from the Philippines, the Steam store page shows no option to purchase.

    This policy has led to a broader discussion on Sony’s regional policies and their impact on the availability of games on Steam in the Philippines. Gamers have expressed their frustration on platforms like Reddit, highlighting the discriminatory nature of these policies against non-PSN-covered countries.

    The situation raises questions about the future of PlayStation games on PC platforms in the Philippines and similar regions. It also underscores the challenges that regional policies can pose for global digital distribution platforms like Steam. As the gaming community continues to react, it remains to be seen how Sony will address these concerns moving forward.