Stellar Blade’s PC Launch Blocked in Over 120 Countries, Developer Shift Up Scrambles for Answers

Stellar Blade will launch on PC on June 11, 2025, but many gamers worldwide can't pre-order it because the game is blocked in over 120 countries. This region-locking issue has caught even the game's developer, Shift Up, by surprise.

After announcing the PC release on social media, Shift Up was flooded with comments from fans sharing screenshots showing the game wasn't available in their regions. According to SteamDB data, most of these restricted countries are places where Sony's PlayStation Network (PSN) isn't officially supported.

This situation is similar to what happened with Helldivers 2 last year. That game was review-bombed and temporarily pulled from sale in 177 countries because it required a PSN account. Sony quickly changed this requirement after massive player backlash.

Shift Up seems confused by the region restrictions as well. In response to disappointed fans, they confirmed that "the PC version of Stellar Blade does not require a PSN account," even adding shocked emojis to their replies. The developer has stated they're "doing thier BEST to resolve most of it as soon as possible" while working with publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Though a PSN account isn't needed to play the game, Shift Up mentioned that players can get a free bonus costume by linking their PSN account to Steam. This optional linking feature appears to be causing the regional availability problems.

Another concern for PC gamers is that Stellar Blade will use Denuvo, a controversial digital rights management software that some players worry affects game performance. Responding to these worries, Shift Up assured fans there would be "no performance degradation due to DRM. Even on lower-end systems, you can enjoy the game in beautiful quality!"

The PC version of Stellar Blade will come with several enhancements over the PS5 version that was released last year. These features include improved visuals, support for ultrawide monitors, unlocked frame rates, and compatibility with NVIDIA DLSS 4 and AMD FSR 3 technologies. The game will also support DualSense controller features and offer multilingual voice options.

Shift Up has promised that both PC and PS5 versions will have identical content. They also stressed that mods will be "fully supported without any restrictions" on PC, giving players freedom to customize their experience.

Image via Twitter

For those who can access the game, Stellar Blade will be available as both a standard edition and a Complete Edition that includes additional content like outfits and in-game currency. The game has also been verified for Steam Deck compatibility.

As we get closer to the June 11 release date, gamers and industry watchers are keeping an eye on whether Sony and Shift Up will sort out those regional availability issues before launch. Fingers crossed they can dodge another mess like the Helldivers 2 controversy!