Unexpected Sales Block for Stellar Blade on Steam in Various Countries
The launch of Stellar Blade on Steam has encountered unexpected roadblocks, with the game being unavailable in nations such as Egypt, Vietnam, Estonia, and Cuba.
Although no official explanation has been provided, the restriction of sales in over 100 countries globally appears to align with regions where the PlayStation Network (PSN) is inaccessible. This has raised questions among gamers.
Interestingly, playing Stellar Blade does not necessitate a PSN account, which adds to the confusion about the sales limitations. The block might be related not to a requirement but to an optional feature involving PSN. There is speculation that the restrictions could be linked to an offer allowing players to use their PSN accounts to obtain a special skin for the character Eve, though this has not been confirmed by the game’s developer, ShiftUp, or Sony.
A tweet by Mikhail Shevkun noted that the game is not available on both Steam and the Epic Games Store in approximately 130 countries, sparking further discussions on the matter.
ShiftUp has expressed surprise at the sales restrictions, responding to several queries from disappointed fans on X/Twitter about their geographical locations, yet no detailed explanation has been provided.
Sony’s PC Rollout Challenges and Previous Controversies
Sony has faced criticism for its handling of PC releases, particularly due to the obligatory PSN connection requirement, which has been a point of contention for PC gamers. This requirement was particularly frustrating for players in regions where PSN is not available, as seen with popular single-player titles like God of War and The Last of Us. The backlash was significant enough to affect the company’s policies.
Previously, the PlayStation community faced a similar issue with Helldivers 2 when PlayStation initially mandated a PSN link for Steam users, a decision that was quickly reversed following user backlash. Despite this, the unavailability of PSN in certain regions led to Helldivers 2 being removed from sale in about 177 countries at that time.
By January 2025, Sony had shifted its strategy, removing the PSN linking requirement for some PC games while offering bonuses to those who chose to link their accounts.
Launch Details for Stellar Blade on PC
The PC version of Stellar Blade is set to launch on June 11 via Steam, boasting several enhancements tailored for PC users. These include AI upscaling through Nvidia DLSS 4 and AMD FSR 3, an unlocked frame rate, support for Japanese and Chinese voiceovers, ultrawide display compatibility, improved resolution for environment textures, and DualSense support for enhanced haptic feedback and trigger effects.
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Vikki Blake, a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant who explores various gaming universes, shares these insights. She can be followed at BlueSky for more gaming news and updates.
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