Stellar Blade DRM and Region Lock Issues Addressed Ahead of PC Release

Stellar Blade PC Updates

SHIFT UP Addresses DRM Concerns

With the much-anticipated PC release of Stellar Blade on the horizon, developer SHIFT UP has taken proactive steps to address fan concerns regarding the game's use of Denuvo, a digital rights management (DRM) system. On May 17, via a Twitter (X) post, they assured players that "DRM has been fine-tuned to maintain the same average frame rate, with even higher minimum frames in some scenarios."

DRM, specifically Denuvo, is an anti-tamper technology designed to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution of games, which can often spark controversy due to its potential impact on game performance. SHIFT UP, however, presented test results showing negligible differences in performance metrics such as average framerate, minimum framerate, maximum framerate, 1% low framerate, and 0.1% low framerate, whether the game was run with or without DRM.

Moreover, Stellar Blade fully supports mods, which is a significant point of interest for many players. This support for modifications without restrictions is often a concern with DRM-protected games. While fans have praised SHIFT UP for their transparency, many still hope for the complete removal of Denuvo to enhance the game's accessibility.

Region Lock Issues

Another pressing issue for Stellar Blade's PC release involves region lock complications linked to PlayStation. Despite the game not requiring a PlayStation Network (PSN) connection, certain global regions without PSN support will still face access restrictions. Currently, over 130 countries are not supported by PSN.

SHIFT UP is actively engaging with the publisher to address these region lock challenges. They've stated they are "closely discussing the region lock issue with the publisher and are doing our best to resolve most of it as soon as possible." They've also confirmed that both the PC and PS5 versions of the game will include the same content, ensuring that "early buyers are never at a disadvantage through future updates."

While the community appreciates SHIFT UP's efforts to address these concerns, there remains a strong desire for a DRM-free and unrestricted gaming experience. Stellar Blade is set to launch on PC via Steam on June 11. For the latest updates on the game, be sure to check out our related articles.