Stellar Blade, initially a PlayStation exclusive, is officially coming to PC in 2025! This announcement follows speculation ignited by hints from SHIFT UP's CFO. The developer confirmed the PC port during a recent financial earnings report, citing the burgeoning PC gaming market and the success of titles like Black Myth: Wukong as key motivators.
While a precise release date remains unannounced, SHIFT UP plans to maintain the game's popularity until the PC launch. This strategy includes a November 20th collaboration DLC with NieR: Automata, the highly anticipated Photo Mode, and ongoing marketing efforts.
This PC release joins a growing trend of PlayStation exclusives migrating to the platform. However, Stellar Blade's status as a Sony-published title, and SHIFT UP's second-party developer relationship with Sony, raises concerns. There's a strong possibility that PC players will need to link their Steam accounts to their PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts. This could significantly impact sales in regions without PSN access, potentially hindering SHIFT UP's goal of surpassing console sales.
The requirement for PSN linking, while justified by Sony as a security measure for live-service games, is questionable for single-player titles. Whether Stellar Blade will necessitate a PSN account remains unclear, given SHIFT UP's IP ownership. However, this potential restriction could significantly impact the game's reach and overall success on PC. Stay tuned for further updates on the PC release and its potential PSN requirements.