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Sony has once again found itself at the center of controversy surrounding PC game publishing. This time the issue concerns the upcoming title Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. It turns out the game will not be available on Steam in as many as 132 countries because it requires the use of PlayStation Network. For many players this means they won’t be able to purchase it, even though they use Valve’s platform. The situation is reminiscent of earlier issues with other titles released by PlayStation.
PlayStation Network requirement blocks sale of the game
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls will be one of the next games released by Sony simultaneously on PlayStation and PC. The game is, however, required to use PlayStation Network. The problem is that the service is not officially available in all countries around the world. As a result, users from 132 regions can't even buy the game on Steam. The restriction doesn't result from a Valve decision, but from Sony's policy on logging into PSN. This is a situation well known to players who follow earlier PlayStation releases on PC. Similar problems have already appeared with other titles that require a PlayStation Network account. Many users point out that blocking the sale of a game solely because PSN isn't supported is hard to understand. Criticism of Sony has resurfaced on social media. Some players hope the company will change its stance before release. For now, however, there is nothing to indicate that the PSN requirements will be lifted.
Players are reminded of the Helldivers 2 story
This isn't the first time Sony has faced such a strong PC community reaction. In the case of Helldivers 2, the company planned to require linking Steam and PlayStation Network accounts after the game's launch. That met with huge player backlash and a wave of negative Steam reviews. Ultimately Sony backed down from the decision. Many users hope a similar scenario will play out with Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. Some are trying to bypass region locks using VPNs, but such actions may violate the platform's terms of service. Meanwhile Sony is already facing criticism over recent decisions, such as price increases, layoffs, and ending the release of games on discs starting in 2028. Controversy around PSN only deepens negative sentiment among some players. For now it's unclear whether the company will change its approach before the game's release.
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls will not be available on PC in 132 countries due to mandatory use of PlayStation Network. Sony's decision has once again sparked a wave of criticism and brought to mind the situation with Helldivers 2. Players hope the company will drop this restriction before launch.
source: insider-gaming.com
