"Stellar Blade PC Release: Denuvo and Region Lock Confirmed"

Stellar Blade is set to make its PC debut with a range of exciting enhancements. However, like other Sony-backed titles, it faces regional restrictions. Here's what you need to know about the bonus content and the challenges for players in 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 expanding its reach with a PC release that promises numerous enhancements. However, the journey to PC has been marred by Sony's premature posting of the game’s trailer and unexpected regional restrictions.

Before the official announcement on May 15, Sony accidentally uploaded a trailer to the official PlayStation YouTube channel, revealing details about the PC version, including its release date. Despite being quickly removed, the information spread rapidly across the internet.

Shift Up has also confirmed that PlayStation 5 players will benefit from the new content introduced with the PC release. In a PlayStation Blog post, technical director DongKi Lee outlined the enhancements, including support for NVIDIA DLSS 4 and AMD FSR 3 upscaling, unlocked framerates exceeding 120 FPS, and ultrawide aspect ratio compatibility 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 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

Date from SteamDB

While PS5 players receive a bonus, the PC launch of Stellar Blade has faced significant challenges, including 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 has confirmed that players do not need to connect their Steam profiles to their PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts to play the RPG. However, a significant overlap exists between the countries where Stellar Blade is blocked on Steam and regions without PSN services, leading many to believe Sony, the game's publisher, is responsible.

The widespread regional blocks seem tied to Sony’s approach to PC game releases and the integration of PSN. Sony has been porting its PlayStation exclusives to PC to reach a broader audience, but this expansion sometimes includes a push for players to connect their Steam profiles to PSN accounts. This isn't an issue for many countries with PSN access, but it creates problems in regions without official PSN support.

Sony's Chief Financial Officer Hiroki Totoki justified this requirement during their November 2024 Investor Call, stating it ensures everyone can "safely" enjoy their live-service games. This explanation makes sense for games like Helldivers 2, but it raises questions about why single-player titles like Stellar Blade and the Horizon series face similar restrictions.

The extent of these blocks has surprised many, including the developers, as evident from their response on Twitter (X). When asked about the game's unavailability in certain regions, the Stellar Blade official X account stated, "The PC version of Stellar Blade 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 netted similar answers.

This issue echoes the controversy surrounding Helldivers 2’s PSN requirement, which led to widespread negative reviews and forced Sony to backtrack on its policy.

The inclusion of Denuvo, designed to prevent piracy, has also stirred concern among PC gamers due to its potential impact on performance and restrictions on game usage.

However, the official Stellar Blade X account reassured players, stating, "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 eager to see how Sony and Shift Up will address these issues. Whether or not June 11 will see Stellar Blade still locked behind numerous restrictions remains to be seen. For more on Stellar Blade, check out our article below!