After its initial release as a PlayStation exclusive in April, Stellar Blade is now coming to PC! Read on to learn more about the game’s release date and other details about the game’s PC release.
Stellar Blade is Coming to PC in 2025
Stellar Blade’s PC Release Could Potentially Require PSN
In June of this year, gamers speculated about a PC release of Stellar Blade after SHIFT UP CFO Jaewoo Ahn hinted at it during the company's IPO press conference, stating how they are "currently looking at a PC version of Stellar Blade, which we believe would be a great way to monetise the IP once again." Earlier today, however, developer SHIFT UP has officially confirmed that the sci-fi action game is set to release on PC in 2025!
Following SHIFT UP's latest financial earnings report, an investor asked about potential "platform expansion" for Stellar Blade. In response, the developers revealed that a PC release is being considered for 2025. They highlighted the increasing popularity of PC gaming, particularly on platforms like Steam, and the global success of titles like Black Myth: Wukong, as reasons for expecting strong performance on PC.
Though SHIFT UP has not specified a release date yet, they have shared a broader strategy to "maintain the IP’s popularity until the platform expansion." This includes the highly anticipated collaboration DLC with Platinum Game’s NieR: Automata and the much-requested Photo Mode, both launching on November 20, and other "ongoing marketing activities."
Stellar Blade’s PC release will join a growing list of high-profile PlayStation exclusives migrating to the platform, a trend that has brought games like God of War Ragnarök and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 to new audiences. This, however, has introduced a concerning practice.
As a Sony Interactive Entertainment-published title, and with SHIFT UP becoming a second-party developer for Sony back in 2023, Stellar Blade will likely require players to link their Steam accounts to their PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts. Unfortunately, this means that players in over 170 countries without access to PSN will be unable to play the game on PC.
Sony’s justification for this requirement, as stated by Chief Financial Officer Hiroki Totoki, is to ensure that everyone can "safely" enjoy their live-service games. While this explanation may be somewhat understandable for games like Helldivers 2, it raises questions about why single-player titles like the Horizon series are also subject to this restriction.
It remains uncertain whether Stellar Blade will also require a PSN account for PC players. Given that the IP is still owned by SHIFT UP, not Sony, there’s a possibility that this might not be the case. However, if a PSN account is indeed required, it could hinder the game’s sales on PC to "exceed [sales] on consoles," as stated by SHIFT UP in their recent financial report.
In the meantime, if you want to learn more about Stellar Blade’s stellar debut, check out our review of the game below!
Source:
SHIFT UP | - [3Q Results] 3Q 2024 Business Performance Results
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