In the last few years, Sony has dipped its toes into PC gaming with ports of popular PlayStation titles. Now, they might be looking to dive in deeper, if the recent release of Marvel’s Spider-Man on PC is any indication. Formerly a PS4- and PS5-exclusive, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered is now available on PC. Users exploring its files discovered references to a “PlayStation PC Game Launcher”. They also found references to possible integrations with PSN Accounts. These files and references were confirmed to be legitimate by VGC.
Exactly what this means for the future of PlayStation games on PC is unknown, as Sony has yet to comment. That being said, it would not be unusual for Sony to release a PlayStation PC Game Launcher. Many publishers in PC gaming have their own launchers, which are front-end programs that function as a library from which to launch various games. In some cases, launchers function as a storefront to buy games from, too. The Epic Games Store, GOG Galaxy, EA’s Origin, Ubisoft Connect (a.k.a. Uplay), and the Bethesda Launcher are all publisher-managed PC Game Launchers. The PC versions of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 require the use of the Rockstar launcher to launch, even for copies purchased and run through Steam or EGS.
At the moment, Sony’s PlayStation PC ports don’t require a PlayStation PC Game Launcher or a PSN account to function. Perhaps the integrations in Marvel’s Spider-Man are intended as optional. Perhaps Sony intends to patch in an account requirement in the future. Any predictions are purely speculative at this time, though.
Marvel’s Spider-Man, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Days Gone, and God of War are available on PC, as well as on PS4.