The highly anticipated PC version of Stellar Blade, set to launch on June 11, has hit a significant snag. Gamers in more than 130 countries, including places like Antarctica, Bangladesh, and Fiji, won’t be able to purchase the game on Steam. This restriction has blindsided developer Shift Up, with players flooding the studio’s social media channels with screenshots showing the game as unavailable in their regions.
What’s Behind the Regional Lockout?
The reason for this widespread restriction remains unclear. Some speculate it could mirror issues faced by another title, where a mandatory account-linking requirement caused a backlash and led to sales bans in multiple countries. For Stellar Blade, no such account-linking mandate exists for gameplay, but one of the new in-game costumes requires connecting a Steam account to Sony’s service. Notably, the affected countries don’t align with regions where Sony’s service is unavailable, adding to the mystery.
Unaffected Markets and Exciting New Features
Fortunately, major gaming hubs like the United States and Europe are unaffected, meaning players in these regions can dive into Stellar Blade without issue. The PC version promises a host of enhancements tailored for high-performance setups. It includes support for advanced upscaling technologies like Nvidia DLSS 4 and AMD FSR 3, ensuring crisp visuals and smooth gameplay.
Fresh Content to Elevate the Experience
Shift Up is also packing the PC release with new content to keep players engaged. A total of 25 new Nano Suits will give players more customization options for their characters. For those craving a challenge, the new Boss Challenge mode pits players against Xionn’s guardian, Mann, in a test of skill and strategy. PS5 players aren’t left out either—Shift Up confirmed that this content will roll out as a free update for the console version.