Optional for HD2 but the fact that they restricted the countries most likely means they’ll try it again.

That's a shitty move. I really hope it backfires.

More particularly its mandatory if folks want to use multiplayer. Since thats all HD2 is that effectively bricks the game outside psn countries. In Ghosts case, its single player, which doesn't require it, (per their devs), but does have multiplayer elements which would require it if you use them.