If they didn’t, then they’d ensure these players would literally never buy a PlayStation.
Also, what they were doing is outright illegal in Europe.
Also, what they were doing is outright illegal in Europe.
Do you mean because they required another unrelated service? Because ubisoft/EA etc. do that too.
Or do you mean because they sold a product and then changed it? Because the requirement was documented from the start, just not enforced until the patch.
Thus they would have to provide false information when creating an account in a valid country, which is an EULA violation which again will result in a ban if caught.
An other unrelated service, which is unavailable in many countries (and part of some countries), including countries where you could buy the game.