Stellar Blade’s long-awaited PC launch is off to a rocky start. Blocked in over 130 countries and burdened by controversial DRM, the PlayStation hit is already making waves just days before release.

After gaining acclaim as one of 2024’s standout PS5 exclusives, Stellar Blade is finally heading to PC — but the hype has quickly been overshadowed by frustration. Just hours after confirming a June release date, players across more than 130 countries have discovered that the game is mysteriously unavailable on Steam. Despite this, it has already secured a spot among the platform’s best-sellers.

The game is up for pre-order on both Steam and the Epic Games Store, with PlayStation itself acting as publisher. However, players in numerous regions are unable to purchase it. While previous titles have seen similar blocks due to requiring a PlayStation Network account, Shift Up has confirmed that Stellar Blade doesn’t require one — making the situation even more puzzling for the Korean developers.

Shift Up has taken to social media, asking fans to report where they’re unable to access the game. As noted by GRY-Online, some players speculate this may be a backend error tied to a bonus outfit that requires linking Steam and PlayStation Network accounts — something Sony could potentially resolve quickly.

Enter Denuvo: Five Activations a Day, Like It or Not

Alongside the regional restrictions, another red flag has raised eyebrows: the PC version includes Denuvo, the notorious anti-piracy system. Even more controversially, users who pre-ordered the game noticed it comes with a five-activations-per-day limit — a security feature that many view as excessive.

If you’re unfamiliar, Denuvo is infamous for allegedly causing performance issues in games that implement it. That said, Shift Up has reassured players that Stellar Blade won’t be plagued by such problems.

According to the newly released system specs, you won’t need a high-end PC to enjoy the game. This sci-fi action title invites players into a post-apocalyptic world crawling with grotesque enemies, offering thrilling exploration and intense combat.

There’s more: the PC release will include bonus content like 25 new outfits and an exclusive costume rewarded after defeating a new boss. And PS5 players won’t miss out — they’ll receive the same content for free. Barring further delays, Stellar Blade launches on PC June 12.

Source: 3djuegos