It seems like it has been listed as a requirement on the store page since launch, although Steam’s age check breaks the wayback machine. If it’s true, that means they knew this was coming. They still allowed it to be sold, probably maliciously in the intent of building out a player base to improve the buzz of the game early, and making a few bucks with the intent of then hoping the affected users would be too few to make a stink when the change was made. The bigger player base at the start allowed the game to build a following in a way that would’ve been harder with a release limited to PSN countries.

Every single thing points to this being an intentional, nasty, anti-consumer decision. Best case scenario the angry customers would’ve been few and it wouldn’t have mattered, worst case scenario would be exactly what’s happening now, but this was factored in. Most customers will just create a PSN account and continue playing, and let’s say refunds go to 90% of the players in non-PSN countries and 10% of PSN country players demand refunds in solidarity… The remaining 90% of PSN country players + the 10% of non-PSN country players that are leaving their money behind is likely still more money than they would’ve had if they had launched it with the PSN requirement enforced. Regardless of how this shakes out, Sony is going to come out the other end of this with more money than they would have had by limiting it from the start - not everyone is going to request a refund… and those that don’t? That’s free money for Sony they never would’ve had.

Is it POSSIBLE it’s just a tone-deaf decision they didn’t think through completely? Sure. Do I think it’s likely, given the size of the company and the way modern big game companies squeeze and manipulate customers with a callousness bordering on disdain? I wouldn’t put my money on it.

I don’t know about that. It’s too good for them. They gained a LOT by this. Refunds don’t mean anything to them - even in the worst case scenario they’re still not paying back as much as they made. They made out from this decision. I think they know exactly what they’re doing.