PlayStation Network Archives

AppWizard

May 19, 2025

‘We are doing our best to resolve most of it’: Stellar Blade’s PC release will be restricted in 130 countries as the devs fight to have it lifted

The PC release of Stellar Blade in June is facing region-lock issues affecting players in 130 countries, with six countries—Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, and Vietnam—having no price point listed. PlayStation Network (PSN) requirements have been controversial, with developers stating that PSN connection is optional, despite past titles facing restrictions leading to negative reviews. The disparity in game pricing across regions has led to exploitation by key resellers. Shift Up, the developer of Stellar Blade, is actively discussing the region lock issue with the publisher to resolve it.

AppWizard

May 17, 2025

Stellar Blade Devs Address PC Release Controversies

Stellar Blade has become highly popular on the PlayStation 5, topping the PlayStation Store charts and selling out merchandise. The game is set to release on PC on June 11th, following its transition from a former exclusive. The developer, Shift Up, has addressed community concerns regarding region locks, content parity between PC and PlayStation versions, and the necessity of a PlayStation Network account for the PC version. All content, including the Nier: Automata crossover, will be available on PC. The introduction of Denuvo DRM has sparked debate due to potential impacts on frame rates and offline playability, but the development team claims it is optimized to maintain performance. Stellar Blade is available for pre-order on Steam, with the base version priced at .99 and a Complete Edition at .99, which includes additional content.

AppWizard

May 17, 2025

Stellar Blade devs seem as confused as everyone else as the action-RPG’s PC port gets region locked in over 100 countries despite no PSN requirements: “May I ask where you live?”

Stellar Blade will be available on PC without requiring a PlayStation Network (PSN) account, but it is subject to region-locking limitations affecting over 100 countries, making it inaccessible to many potential players. This has led to frustration among users, as demonstrated by a tweet from a disappointed player. Shift Up, the game's developer, is engaging with users on Twitter to understand the situation better. While Sony has moved away from enforcing PSN requirements for its PC games, the region-locking issue persists in several recent releases, including The Last of Us 2 Remastered and Marvel's Spider-Man 2.

TrendTechie

April 6, 2025

Overclockers.ru: Порт The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered был слит на торренты менее чем за 24 часа

The Last of Us Part 2 was released on April 3, 2025, and was pirated within 24 hours of its launch, appearing on various torrent sites. Initial player engagement is lower than its predecessor, with a peak concurrent player count of 28,134 compared to 36,496 for the first game. The sequel has better performance than the first installment, which suffered from significant optimization issues, but it still has reports of bugs and graphical artifacts. Digital Foundry's analysis indicates that while the sequel surpasses the original in several areas, it also has abrupt frame rate drops and requires a powerful graphics card, affecting accessibility.

AppWizard

April 1, 2025

The Last of Us Part II Remastered Coming to PC On April 3, 2025

“The Last of Us Part II Remastered” will be released on PC on April 3, 2025, available on Steam and the Epic Games Store. This marks the first time Windows users can access the game, which previously received over 300 Game of the Year awards on PlayStation. The remastered edition includes enhancements such as improved graphics, performance, and new content, including a roguelike mode called “No Return.” Pre-orders are currently available. The PC version will support customizable graphics settings, ultrawide monitor support, and full DualSense controller features. New playable characters Bill and Marlene will be introduced in the “No Return” mode, alongside a Guitar Free Play mode and restored cut content. The game will require a minimum of an Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1300x processor and 16GB RAM.

AppWizard

March 5, 2025

There’s a new way to play PlayStation and PC games early

Sony has launched the PlayStation Beta Program, allowing PlayStation and PC gamers to express interest in participating in beta tests for new or unreleased titles and features. Registration is open and free for users with a valid PlayStation Network Account in the 73 countries where the network operates. Participation is by invitation only, and participants must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to maintain confidentiality. Earlier this year, there was high demand for access codes to the Elden Ring: Nightreign network test, with some codes selling for hundreds of pounds. Additionally, Sony offered five extra days of PSN membership to users affected by a 24-hour outage of the PlayStation Network.

AppWizard

March 4, 2025

PlayStation Announces a New Beta Program to Let Players Test Upcoming PS5 and PC Games and More

Sony has launched the Beta Program within the PlayStation ecosystem, allowing players to test upcoming PS5 and PC games. Registration for the program will begin globally, requiring players to complete a single registration to express interest in various beta opportunities, including new PS5 features and functionalities in the PlayStation App. Joining the program is free, but registration does not guarantee access to every beta. Eligibility requires a valid PlayStation Network account, residency in an accessible region, and being of legal age.

TrendTechie

February 22, 2025

5 отличных игр, в которые вы не сможете сыграть. Почему они исчезли даже с торрентов

1. **Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game** was removed from digital storefronts in 2014 due to copyright issues and remained inaccessible until a re-release was announced by Ubisoft in 2020. 2. **P.T.**, an interactive teaser for Silent Hill, was removed from the PlayStation Network after its cancellation by Konami, making it unplayable for those who had downloaded it, with access only for those who had not deleted it. 3. **Tekken Revolution**, a free-to-play game released in 2013, had its servers shut down in 2016, rendering it unplayable. 4. **Battlefield Heroes** was closed down after becoming inundated with pay-to-win elements, despite attempts by fans to create private servers. 5. **Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII**, released in 2004 for Japanese mobile phones, was shut down in 2018, and Square Enix stated that the original code has been lost, making it a complete loss.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

PlayStation games on PC is “almost like printing money”, says former exec Shuhei Yoshida

Shuhei Yoshida, a former PlayStation executive, discussed the financial benefits of porting PlayStation-exclusive titles to PC, describing it as "almost like printing money." He expressed a desire to transition first-party games to PC earlier but noted that the previous business model did not support this vision. Porting games allows Sony to reach a broader audience, particularly in regions with low console ownership, and is cost-effective compared to creating original titles. Yoshida emphasized the importance of tapping into emerging markets like China, where the PC gaming landscape is strong. Since 2020, Sony has gradually transitioned its exclusive titles to PC, with recent releases including Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and the upcoming The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. The release of Helldivers 2 was noted as a significant success for Sony. Yoshida also mentioned future plans for live service games, including insights on Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Online.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Sony Continues to Inexplicably Block Games in Hundreds of Countries

Sony has eliminated the mandatory PlayStation Network (PSN) sign-in requirement for accessing PlayStation games on PC, but many titles remain inaccessible in various regions. The game Lost Soul Aside is blocked in 130 countries that lack official PSN support, preventing players in those regions from accessing it. Previously released PlayStation games are also unavailable in these areas, leaving gamers in countries like the Philippines and Vietnam unable to view the store page on Steam. This situation raises concerns for fans of Stellar Blade regarding potential access to the game if it is released on PC.