Stellar Blade PC Release Set for 2025

Stellar Blade, initially released as a PlayStation exclusive in April, is now set to make its way to PC gamers. Here's everything you need to know about the game's upcoming PC release.

Stellar Blade is Coming to PC in 2025

The buzz about a PC version of Stellar Blade started in June when SHIFT UP's CFO, Jaewoo Ahn, hinted at the possibility during the company's IPO press conference. Today, SHIFT UP has officially confirmed that the sci-fi action game will indeed be released on PC in 2025.

Following their latest financial earnings report, SHIFT UP responded to an investor's query about "platform expansion" for Stellar Blade. They revealed plans for a PC release in 2025, citing the growing popularity of PC gaming, especially on platforms like Steam, and the global success of titles like Black Myth: Wukong as reasons for expecting strong performance on PC.

While a specific release date hasn't been announced yet, SHIFT UP is committed to maintaining the IP's popularity until the PC launch. This includes a collaboration DLC with Platinum Game's NieR: Automata and the much-anticipated Photo Mode, both set to launch on November 20, along with other ongoing marketing efforts.

Stellar Blade's PC release will join the ranks of other high-profile PlayStation exclusives making their way to PC, such as God of War Ragnarök and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. However, this trend has introduced a notable concern.

As a title published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, and with SHIFT UP becoming a second-party developer for Sony in 2023, Stellar Blade may require players to link their Steam accounts to their PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts. This requirement could prevent players in over 170 countries without access to PSN from enjoying the game on PC.

Sony's rationale for this requirement, as explained by Chief Financial Officer Hiroki Totoki, is to ensure a "safe" gaming experience, particularly for live-service games. However, this justification raises questions when applied to single-player titles like the Horizon series.

It's still unclear whether Stellar Blade will mandate a PSN account for PC players. Since the IP is owned by SHIFT UP and not Sony, there's a chance this might not be necessary. However, if a PSN account is required, it could impact the game's sales on PC, potentially hindering SHIFT UP's goal of surpassing console sales.

In the meantime, if you're curious about Stellar Blade's impressive debut, be sure to check out our review of the game below!