"Lost Soul Aside on Steam Blocked in Over 130 Countries by Sony"

The highly anticipated game Lost Soul Aside is set to launch with a significant caveat: it will be region-locked for over 130+ countries on Steam. This decision has sparked frustration among PC gamers, many of whom are now reconsidering their purchase due to these restrictions. Dive deeper into the reasons behind the region lock and explore recent interviews with the game's director.

Players Express Frustration Over Lost Soul Aside's Region Lock

Developed by UltiZero Games, Lost Soul Aside faces a launch marred by regional restrictions enforced by Sony. Data from SteamDB reveals that the game will be unavailable in more than 130 countries, all of which lack support from the PlayStation Network (PSN). Intriguingly, Lost Soul Aside does not mandate a PSN account for gameplay. Despite this, the region lock prevents the game from appearing on Steam in these unsupported countries, forcing players to create a new Steam account in a PSN-supported region if they wish to play. This move baffles many, especially since PlayStation recently eliminated PSN requirements for their PC titles. The backlash is palpable on social media, where PC gamers voice their discontent and many vow not to purchase the game due to this limitation.

Lost Soul Aside: A Fusion of Fantasy and Realism

Since its initial reveal in 2016, Lost Soul Aside has captivated audiences with its unique blend of fantasy elements and realistic visuals. In a recent IGN interview on February 20, 2025, UltiZero Games CEO Yang Bing elaborated on the game's consistent style and inspiration. Bing emphasized that the game's visual and combat style, characterized by high speed and flashy action, has remained true to the original concept showcased in the 2016 promotional video. "So this is something that we have been sticking to for all these years. During this development process, we, of course, continued to see some new and excellent works, which maybe we got some influence through, [on] our thought along the way. So from the beginning, this personal trailer gradually evolved into a more mature and well-run version, I should say," Bing noted. He also highlighted the influence of Final Fantasy 15, pointing out the protagonist Kaser's cartoonish features set against the game's realistic textures.

Drawing Inspiration from Gaming Giants

Lost Soul Aside draws heavily from a roster of iconic Japanese games, including Final Fantasy, Bayonetta, Ninja Gaiden, and Devil May Cry. In an interview with Famitsu on February 20, 2025, Yang Bing discussed how these influences have shaped various aspects of the game. He particularly noted the design of Kaser, inspired by Final Fantasy, stating, "I had a designer design the clothes for the main character, and I wanted to combine realistic and fantasy elements, just like in FF. After the clothes are designed, they are actually made and reproduced in the game. By doing so, we thought that the players would feel as if it actually existed, and that the main character, Kazel, would also feel as a bloody, realistic character." Regarding combat, Yang praised the fast-paced and flashy styles of Bayonetta, Ninja Gaiden, and Devil May Cry, saying, "We're also constantly improving and refining the combat system, maintaining a sense of speed in combat while also adding a certain amount of depth. Players can develop their own style, and even if they are not good at sequential moves, they can use various systems to achieve high performance and make the game go smoothly."

Lost Soul Aside is scheduled for release on May 30, 2025, on PlayStation 5 and PC. Stay updated with the latest developments by checking out our detailed article below!