God of War Ragnarok's Steam launch has been met with a mixed reception, largely due to Sony's controversial PSN account requirement. The game currently holds a 6/10 user score, a result of significant review bombing by disgruntled fans.
The requirement, announced prior to the PC release, has baffled players and fueled the negative reviews. Many expressed frustration at the inclusion of online features in a single-player title. Interestingly, some users reported successfully playing the game without linking a PSN account, highlighting a potential inconsistency in the implementation.
Steam reviews reflect this divided opinion. Negative reviews cite the PSN requirement as a major drawback, with some players even reporting technical issues stemming from the account link. Conversely, positive reviews praise the game's quality, attributing the negative scores solely to Sony's policy. One user stated the game was "top notch" despite the controversy.
This isn't the first time Sony has faced such criticism. A similar backlash against a PSN requirement for Helldivers 2 prompted the company to reverse its decision. Whether Sony will respond similarly to the God of War Ragnarok situation remains to be seen. The incident underscores the growing tension between publishers enforcing online features and players' desire for a seamless single-player experience. The images included show the mixed reviews on Steam.
Image 1: God of War Ragnarok's Mixed Steam Rating Image 2: Further illustration of negative Steam reviews