"Lost Soul Aside Blocked on Steam in Over 130 Countries by Sony"

Lost Soul Aside will be region-locked for over 130+ countries on Steam, causing frustration among PC gamers who are now choosing not to purchase the game. Dive deeper into the reasons behind the region lock and insights from recent interviews with the game's director.

Lost Soul Aside Locked For 130+ Countries At Launch

Players Frustrated With Lost Soul Aside Being Region-Locked

UltiZero Games' eagerly anticipated title, Lost Soul Aside, will face a region lock upon its release, much to the dismay of the gaming community. This decision stems from Sony's ongoing strategy to limit the availability of PlayStation-published games. Data from SteamDB indicates that Lost Soul Aside will be inaccessible in over 130+ countries where PlayStation Network (PSN) is not supported.

Curiously, playing Lost Soul Aside does not necessitate a PSN account. However, the region lock means that the game won't be listed on Steam in countries lacking PSN support. To circumvent this, players would need to create a new Steam account in a PSN-supported country—a move that has baffled many, especially since PlayStation recently dropped PSN requirements for its PC titles. The backlash has been swift, with PC gamers voicing their discontent across social media and forums, many deciding against purchasing the game due to these restrictions.

Lost Soul Aside Will Blend Fantasy Elements With Realistic Visuals

Since its announcement in 2016, Lost Soul Aside has captivated audiences with its unique approach to blending fantasy with realistic visuals. In a recent IGN interview on February 20, 2025, UltiZero Games CEO Yang Bing elaborated on the game's stylistic vision and development journey.

Bing emphasized that the game's visual style and fast-paced, flashy combat have remained consistent since the initial promotional video in 2016. "So this is something that we have been sticking to for all these years," Bing remarked. He also acknowledged the influence of other works encountered during development, saying, "During this development process, we, of course, continued to see some new and excellent works, which maybe we got some influence through, [on] our thought along the way." This has led to the evolution of the game from a personal project to a more polished, mature offering.

Bing also highlighted the influence of Final Fantasy 15, particularly in the design of the protagonist, Kaser. His character combines cartoonish facial features and hairstyles with a realistic texture approach to skin, hair, and clothing, epitomizing the blend of fantasy and reality.

Influences From Final Fantasy, Bayonetta, Ninja Gaiden, and Devil May Cry

Lost Soul Aside draws inspiration from a variety of acclaimed Japanese games, including Final Fantasy, Bayonetta, Ninja Gaiden, and Devil May Cry. In an interview with Famitsu on February 20, 2025, Bing detailed how these influences have shaped the game.

The design of Kaser, the protagonist, heavily reflects the influence of Final Fantasy. "I had a designer design the clothes for the main character, and I wanted to combine realistic and fantasy elements, just like in FF," Bing explained. He aimed to create a tangible sense of realism for players, making Kaser feel like a "bloody, realistic character."

Regarding combat, Bing cited the influence of Bayonetta, Ninja Gaiden, and Devil May Cry, emphasizing the game's fast-paced and flashy action. "We're also constantly improving and refining the combat system, maintaining a sense of speed in combat while also adding a certain amount of depth," he stated. This allows players to develop their own combat style, ensuring that even those less adept at sequential moves can achieve high performance and enjoy a smooth gameplay experience.

Lost Soul Aside is slated for release on May 30, 2025, for PlayStation 5 and PC. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting title!