Stellar Blade, initially a PlayStation exclusive, is officially coming to PC in 2025! This announcement follows earlier speculation and confirms the developer SHIFT UP's plans for platform expansion.
Stellar Blade's PC Arrival: A 2025 Launch and Potential PSN Requirement
SHIFT UP's confirmation came after investor inquiries regarding Stellar Blade's future platforms. The developer cited the booming PC gaming market, particularly on Steam, and the success of titles like Black Myth: Wukong, as key factors in their decision. While a precise release date remains unannounced, SHIFT UP aims to maintain the game's popularity through various strategies. These include the upcoming November 20th release of collaborative DLC with NieR: Automata and the much-requested Photo Mode, alongside ongoing marketing initiatives.
The PC release raises concerns, however. As a Sony-published title and with SHIFT UP's second-party status with Sony, a PSN account link for Steam might be required. This would unfortunately exclude players in regions lacking PSN access. Sony's stated reason for this practice, as explained by CFO Hiroki Totoki, is to ensure the "safe" enjoyment of live-service games, a justification questioned for single-player titles subject to the same restriction.
The necessity of a PSN account for the PC version remains unclear. SHIFT UP's ownership of the IP offers a possibility of avoiding this requirement. However, a mandatory PSN link could significantly impact PC sales, potentially hindering SHIFT UP's goal of surpassing console sales.
Stay tuned for further updates on the Stellar Blade PC release and whether a PSN account will be necessary. In the meantime, explore our review for a deeper dive into the game's initial release!
