Stellar Blade Tackles DRM, Region Lock Before PC Launch

The developer of Stellar Blade has responded to concerns about DRM and region locking ahead of the PC launch. Learn how DRM impacts performance and what’s being done about region restrictions.

Stellar Blade PC Updates

SHIFT UP Addressed DRM Concerns

Stellar Blade is coming to PC, and developer SHIFT UP has responded to player concerns about the inclusion of Denuvo DRM. In a May 17 post on Twitter (X), they explained that “DRM has been heavily optimized to preserve the same average frame rate, with even improved minimum frames in some scenarios.”

DRM is an anti-piracy technology designed to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution of games, often making it harder to create or play cracked versions. Denuvo’s presence in games has long sparked debate due to its potential impact on performance.

However, SHIFT UP shared internal performance test results comparing gameplay with and without DRM. Their data shows nearly identical results across average framerate, minimum framerate, maximum framerate, 1% lows, and 0.1% lows.

The game also fully supports mods with no restrictions—an important advantage over many DRM-protected titles. While players praised the studio’s openness, many still hope Denuvo will be removed entirely to ensure broader accessibility.

Region Lock Issues

Another concern surrounding Stellar Blade’s PC release is region locking tied to PlayStation. Even though the game doesn’t require a connection to the PlayStation Network (PSN), players in certain regions won’t be able to access it due to PSN’s regional limitations. Over 130 countries currently lack PSN support.

SHIFT UP stated they are “actively working with the publisher to address region lock issues and doing our BEST to resolve them as quickly as possible.” They assured that both the PC and PS5 versions will deliver identical content, ensuring “early buyers never face disadvantages from future updates.”

While fans appreciate the developer’s transparency, many still wish the game could launch without DRM or PSN-based restrictions. Stellar Blade’s PC version launches on Steam on June 11. For the latest updates on the game, explore our article below!