Stellar Blade is gearing up for its PC debut with a suite of enhancements. However, like other Sony-backed titles, the game faces regional restrictions. Read on to learn about the bonus content and the implications for countries without PSN access.
Stellar Blade’s PC Release: The Good and The Bad
The Good: PS5 Players Get Free Update with New Content and Features
Stellar Blade, the stylish action RPG from Shift Up, is set to expand its reach with a PC release that promises a host of enhancements. However, its journey to PC hasn't been entirely smooth, marked by Sony prematurely posting the game’s trailer and regional restrictions that even the developers themselves appear to have not seen coming.
For context, before the official announcement yesterday, May 15, the world was treated to an early glimpse of Stellar Blade’s PC debut, courtesy of Sony itself. A trailer, seemingly uploaded prematurely to the official PlayStation YouTube channel, revealed key details about the PC version, including its release date. While quickly taken down, the internet, as it often does, preserved and disseminated the information.
Fans will also be pleased to know Shift Up has confirmed that PlayStation 5 players will also benefit from the new content being introduced with the PC release.
In a PlayStation Blog post, Shift Up’s technical director, DongKi Lee, detailed the additions coming to both platforms. This includes a suite of enhancements, including support for NVIDIA DLSS 4 and AMD FSR 3 upscaling, unlocked framerates exceeding 120 FPS, and ultrawide aspect ratio compatibility ranging from 5:4 to 32:9. Players can also expect high-resolution textures, full keyboard and mouse remapping, DualSense controller support with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, and additional voiceover options in Japanese and Chinese..
The PC version also introduces new content such as a boss battle against Mann, the leader of the Sentinels, and 25 additional costumes for protagonist Eve. This content will be available to PlayStation 5 users through a free update on the same day.
The Bad: Stellar Blade PC Launch Marred by Regional Restrictions and Denuvo DRM
Data from SteamDB
PS5 players may be getting a bonus, but the PC launch of Stellar Blade has been less than stellar, complicated by significant regional restrictions and the inclusion of Denuvo DRM. According to SteamDB, the game is currently unavailable for purchase on Steam in over 100 countries.
Shift Up confirmed that players need not connect their Steam profiles with their PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts to play the RPG. However, a significant overlap exists between the countries where Stellar Blade is currently blocked on Steam and regions without PSN services. This caused many fans to deduce that Sony, the game's publisher, was responsible.
The reason behind these widespread regional blocks appears to be linked to Sony’s approach to its PC game releases and the integration of the PSN. Sony has been increasingly porting its PlayStation exclusives to PC, with the aim to broaden its audience. However, this expansion has sometimes been accompanied by a push for players to connect their Steam profiles to their PSN accounts. This isn’t necessarily an issue for many countries with access to PSN. However, this requirement creates a problem in regions where the service is not officially supported.
Sony justified this requirement, as explained by Chief Financial Officer Hiroki Totoki in their November 2024 Investor Call, by stating that it is to ensure everyone can "safely" enjoy their live-service games. This explanation may be somewhat understandable for games like Helldivers 2, but it raises questions about why single-player titles like Stellar Blade and the Horizon series are also subject to such restrictions.
The extent of these blocks has caught many off guard, including, it seems, the developers themselves, as per their reply to players on Twitter (X). When rhetorically asked why the game was not available in certain regions, the Stellar Blade official X account simply stated, "The PC version of Stellar Balde does not require a PSN account. May I ask where you live?" accompanied by a "face screaming in fear" emoji. Subsequent replies to similar inquiries net similar answers.
This issue echoes previous controversies surrounding PSN account linking, most notably the backlash against Helldivers 2’s PSN requirement. That situation led to widespread negative reviews and forced Sony to backtrack on its policy.
It doesn’t help, too, that player animosity to Denuvo, which the game’s PC release includes, is a significant point of concern. Denuvo is a technology designed to prevent piracy, but it is often criticized by PC gamers for potentially impacting performance and restricting how players can use their games.
This issue appears to be unfounded, however, as the official Stellar Blade X account assured players that "After extensive testing and relentless optimization, the game delivers high frame rates on a variety of setups. Even on the Steam Deck, you can reach 45-50 FPS with the right settings!"
As Stellar Blade’s PC release date approaches, fans are waiting to see how Sony and Shift Up will address these issues, if they ever will. For now, it remains to be seen whether or not June 11 will see Stellar Blade still locked behind numerous restrictions. For more on Stellar Blade, check out our article below!
Source:
PlayStation Blog | Stellar Blade launches June 11 on PC, specs and features revealed
Shit Up | Stellar Blade PC Version Announcement on Twitter
Shift Up | Stellar Blade Twitter Account Acknowledges PC Release’s Regional Restrictions
Sony | Q2 FY2024 Consolidated Financial Results
Shift Up | Stellar Blade Twitter Account Comments on Denuvo Inclusion
