Stellar Blade developer Shift Up has issued an official statement regarding the unexpected region lock issue that emerged as the action-adventure title prepares for its highly anticipated PC debut. Originally launched for PlayStation 5 in April 2024, Stellar Blade is set to make its PC debut on June 11, but this newly discovered restriction has created unexpected challenges for the development team.

Following the remarkable success of Stellar Blade on PlayStation 5, Shift Up had previously announced plans to bring the title to PC. This week, the studio revealed the Stellar Blade Complete Edition for both platforms, featuring 25 new Nano Suits, an additional boss encounter, expanded voiceover options for Japanese and Chinese languages, and enhanced facial animations for these language settings. While PC gamers eagerly await the opportunity to explore the game's modding potential, the sudden region lock has temporarily prevented many players from accessing the Stellar Blade Steam page.

The discovery that the Steam version of Stellar Blade had been blocked in over 100 countries prompted Shift Up to respond. The developer assured players via Twitter that their team is actively working with Sony to resolve the unexpected region restrictions as quickly as possible. The statement also clarified important details about the PC version: while players can optionally link their PSN accounts, this won't be mandatory. Notably, Shift Up confirmed that the PC release will feature complete mod support without limitations, though it will still include the controversial Denuvo DRM protection.

Despite initial controversies, Stellar Blade emerged as a commercial triumph for Shift Up, becoming North America's top-selling game in April 2024 and surpassing one million copies sold by June. Recent reports revealed that Stellar Blade's director, Kim Hyung-tae, has joined South Korea's 50 wealthiest individuals, with his net worth approaching $725 million. The gaming community eagerly anticipates the PC version's performance once the region lock situation is resolved.

Hyung-tae recently shared his personal Game of the Year pick for 2025, expressing high praise for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 after achieving Platinum status in the RPG following 96 hours of gameplay. Currently, Expedition 33 holds the highest average score (92) on OpenCritic for 2025 releases, followed closely by Split Fiction and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 at 90.