Stellar Blade DRM, Region Lock Addressed Before PC Launch

Stellar Blade, the eagerly anticipated game from developer SHIFT UP, is set to make its debut on PC, sparking discussions around its use of Denuvo (DRM) and potential region lock issues. Let's dive into how these elements could impact your gaming experience and what the developers are planning to do about it.

Stellar Blade PC Updates

SHIFT UP Addressed DRM Concerns

In response to fan concerns about the integration of Denuvo (DRM) in Stellar Blade, SHIFT UP took to Twitter (X) on May 17 to clarify that "DRM has been hard tuned to maintain the same average frame rate, with even higher minimum frames in some cases." Denuvo, an anti-tamper technology designed to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution, has been a hot topic due to its potential impact on game performance. However, SHIFT UP's testing revealed that the game's performance metrics, including average, minimum, and maximum frame rates, along with 1% and 0.1% low frame rates, remained virtually unchanged with or without DRM.

Moreover, Stellar Blade fully supports mods without any restrictions, a feature often at odds with games that use DRM. While fans have praised SHIFT UP's transparency, there remains a strong desire for the game to be released without Denuvo to enhance its accessibility.

Region Lock Issues

Another point of contention for Stellar Blade's PC release is the potential region lock issues tied to PlayStation Network (PSN). Despite the game not requiring a PSN connection, over 130 countries where PSN is unsupported will face access restrictions. SHIFT UP is actively working with the publisher to resolve these region lock concerns as swiftly as possible, ensuring that both PC and PS5 versions offer the same content and that "early buyers are never at a disadvantage through future updates."

While fans appreciate SHIFT UP's efforts to address these issues, many still hope for a version of Stellar Blade that's free from both DRM and PSN restrictions. Mark your calendars for June 11, when Stellar Blade hits Steam. Stay tuned to our updates for the latest on this exciting release!