Stellar Blade DRM, Region Lock Solutions Before PC Launch

Stellar Blade's developer has tackled concerns about DRM and region lock issues ahead of the game's PC release. Delve deeper to understand how DRM impacts gameplay and what steps are being taken to address region lock problems.

Stellar Blade PC Updates

SHIFT UP Addressed DRM Concerns

Stellar Blade is gearing up for its PC debut, and developer SHIFT UP has responded to fan worries about the inclusion of Denuvo (DRM). On May 17, via a Twitter (X) post, they stated, "DRM has been fine-tuned to maintain the same average frame rate, with even higher minimum frames in some scenarios."

DRM, or Digital Rights Management, is an anti-tamper technology designed to thwart unauthorized copying and distribution of games, making it challenging for piracy and cracked versions to circulate. The use of Denuvo has sparked controversy due to its alleged impact on game performance.

SHIFT UP shared the results of their performance tests, which demonstrated that the game's performance remains consistent with and without DRM. They provided data on average framerate, minimum framerate, maximum framerate, 1% low framerate, and 0.1% low framerate, all showing negligible differences.

Moreover, Stellar Blade fully supports mods without any restrictions, a common issue in games with DRM. While fans have praised SHIFT UP's 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 restrictions related to PlayStation. Although the game does not require a PlayStation Network (PSN) connection, it remains inaccessible in over 130 countries that are unsupported by PSN.

SHIFT UP is actively working on this issue, stating, "We 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 reassured fans that both the PC and PS5 versions will offer identical content, ensuring that "early buyers are never at a disadvantage through future updates."

While fans are grateful for the developer's efforts to address these concerns, many still wish for a version of the game free from DRM and PSN-related restrictions. Stellar Blade's PC release is scheduled for June 11 on Steam. Stay tuned for more updates by checking out our related articles below!