we collect the information that you provide by entering it into certain Service features. For example, when you want to post in a forum, you provide us the content for the post (which could contain PI which we collect and then display for you on the forum). Likewise, when you use other features such as voice or text messaging, blogs, surveys, user-generated content, activity streams, or social media, we may first collect the information you enter into the feature.
We may also automatically or passively collect information about your use of our Services, see the sub-sections below for a list of categories by sources of such information.
Each time you use a PlayStation console or a PlayStation app on a PlayStation console or other devices (such as a mobile phone or PC), we may automatically collect information about your use of that device and app. If you sign into an Account, we may combine it with other information we have for that Account.
The information that we collect from devices may include: Device identifiers such as your PlayStation console ID, mobile device IDs, cookie IDs, or serial numbers, Network identifiers such as your IP address and MAC address
We may receive information, including the following, from third party sources and combine it with information we already directly collect from you. We will handle the information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Game, social media, or other information, from those third parties or services you link your Account with
Marketing and Advertising: We may target and personalize our marketing communications, purchase recommendations and advertisements that we display on our and third-party websites and services based on the information we have collected about you.
The list just goes on here, but to boil it down: Sony wants dat sweet sweet data.
I just don't get my panties in a bunch because the butthurt mob told me to.
It is incredibly common for games to require you to use their gaming service for crossplays. I'm actually more surprised that they didn't require it from the beginning.
I'll just login to my preexisting PSN account and continue on with my day.
What babies.
Yeah. History has shown, companies don't want more money, they want all the money. Doesn't matter how little they make, if they can gather your information, they'll sell you.
"Its incredibly common to get fucked over by corporations, so why don't we just let them fuck us"
Standard behaviour isn't an excuse for shitty practices. If you want the standard to become better, rebel against/boycott entities enforcing that standard.
Once upon a time slavery was standard behaviour. Once upon a time company towns were standard behaviour. Once upon a time, absolute monarchies were standard behaviour. Things got better because people didn't accept the standard and took a stand against it. Not because they dismissed it as the standard.
What if I told you crossplay worked just fine without linking? Also You can opt out of crossplay which crossplay is optional, why is the account mandatory? What's your next excuse to require an account?
You can call others babies and not care, but don't act like you've got any argument for requiring a PSN account, because you don't.