Stellar Blade Developers Address PC Release Controversies and DRM Concerns

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Stellar Blade has emerged as a blockbuster hit on the PlayStation 5, leading the pack in popularity on the PlayStation store and swiftly depleting merchandise stock at an astonishing pace. Gamers eagerly await the news that this once exclusive title will make its way to PC later this year, broadening its appeal to a wider gaming community. Yet, it’s important to mention that with any transition to PC, there may arise certain challenges. The developers of Stellar Blade, Shift Up, have recently spoken up to clarify some debatable aspects of the game prior to its scheduled release on June 11th, addressing concerns such as content locked exclusively to consoles and frame rate inconsistencies.

After the triumph of Black Myth: Wukong’s PC version, it was with great anticipation that news of Stellar Blade’s PC port was announced. Sadly, many players who missed out on the game due to its PlayStation exclusivity were thrilled. But as we edge closer to the release date for the Stellar Blade PC version, discussions online about the game’s technical requirements, region limitations, and possible console-exclusive content have ignited a heated debate amongst the eagerly waiting fans.

The team responsible for the PC version of Stellar Blade spoke up on the official Stellar Blade X account to tackle these concerns.

We’re actively collaborating with the publisher to address the region lock problem swiftly and are putting our utmost effort into finding a solution. As demonstrated in the test diagram, the DRM settings have been fine-tuned to ensure consistent average frame rates, boosting the minimum frames slightly…

— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) May 16, 2025

According to the post, individuals concerned about variations between the PC and PlayStation editions of Stellar Blade can feel reassured because both versions provide identical content. The developers have guaranteed that early buyers won’t be disadvantaged through future updates. Additionally, it was mentioned that a PSN account isn’t necessary to play the game on PC and they are collaborating with the publisher to resolve region lock issues.

A heated debate has arisen among the community regarding the inclusion of Denuvo, a digital rights management tool, in the PC version of Stellar Blade. This software is criticized within the gaming world for its impact on frame rates during gameplay and its aggressive anti-piracy measures that can negatively affect legitimate users. Specifically, this DRM requires an active internet connection to function, implying that the PC port of Stellar Blade may not be playable offline. Furthermore, it is known for installing persistent files on your computer, even after you remove the game it came with.

Despite the ongoing debate, the developers of the Stellar Blade PC version remain adamant about utilizing Denuvo software. They argue that “This digital rights management (DRM) system has been specifically adjusted to preserve the average frame rate, and in certain instances, boost the minimum frames even higher.

The game titled “Stellar Blade” will debut on PC on June 11th, and it’s now available for pre-purchase through Steam. The standard edition of the game is priced at $59.99, similar to last year’s PS5 version of “Stellar Blade”. Additionally, there’s a more comprehensive $79.99 “Complete Edition” that includes extra costumes and collaborations with “NieR:Automata” and “Goddess of Victory: Nikke”.

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2025-05-17 18:10