Summary
Stellar Blade, the popular action-adventure title from ShiftUp, has been blocked from sale in over 100 countries on Steam, leaving players around the world looking for ways to purchase the long-awaited PC version. The game was originally released as a PlayStation 5 exclusive, offering fast-paced combat and RPG elements in a semi-open sci-fi world.Stellar Bladehas gained recognition for its over-the-top nature, amazing boss battles, and customization options.
The PC version ofStellar Bladeis scheduled to launch on June 11, bringing with it features like unlocked framerates, more comprehensive display support, improved textures, and compatibility with AI-enhanced DLSS 4 and FSR 3 technologies. However, this is also the first timeStellar Bladewill be made available via non-Sony platforms, which brings its own challenges.
In a social media thread about the game’s PC release, the developer was asked to comment on the unavailability of the title in certain regions. ShiftUp acknowledged the issue, responding to player complaints on social media by asking for the user’s locations. While the original poster didn’t reveal their location, another user replied with a list of approximately 130 countries where the game is not available on Steam and Epic Games Store.
Stellar Blade Unavailable in Over 100 Countries on Steam
Unfortunately, no formal explanation or resolution has been offered at the time of writing to the inquiries. The developer’s apparent surprise has only added to the confusion, suggesting the block may not have been fully anticipated by ShiftUp. Blocking countries, including Estonia, Cuba, Vietnam, and others, seems to align somewhat with PSN availability. This suggests that Sony could be responsible for the hamperedPC launch ofStellar Blade, although there’s no official confirmation.
Previously, games likeHorizon Zero Dawnhave been restricted by requiring a PSN account. For many gamers, this made the experience more inconvenient, having to either register an account for a game that doesn’t even have a multiplayer element or struggle to play an online game due to PSN region limitations. Perhaps the most notable of them all was theHelldivers 2controversy, which ultimately led toSony reversing the PSN linking requirement.
Sony has since moved away from the practice, with games likeLost Soul Asideremoving the PSN requirementfor the PC version. Unfortunately, the situation leaves players with some unanswered questions aboutStellar Blade’sPC release. Whether it was a simple mistake by Sony or there is something special about this particular title, remains to be seen.
