"Sony Restrictions Block Lost Soul Aside on Steam in Over 130 Countries"

Lost Soul Aside will be region-locked for over 130+ countries on Steam, leaving many PC gamers disappointed and reconsidering their purchase. Dive deeper to understand the reasons behind the region lock and get insights from the game's director.

Lost Soul Aside Locked For 130+ Countries At Launch

Players Frustrated With Lost Soul Aside Being Region-Locked

UltiZero Games' highly anticipated title, Lost Soul Aside, will face region-locking at its launch, much to the dismay of gamers worldwide. This decision stems from Sony's ongoing policy to limit the availability of PlayStation-published games. According to SteamDB, the game will be inaccessible in over 130+ countries, all of which lack support from the PlayStation Network (PSN).

Interestingly, Lost Soul Aside does not mandate a PSN account for gameplay. However, the region lock means the game won't even appear on Steam in countries unsupported by PSN. 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 eliminated PSN requirements for their PC titles. The backlash has been significant, with PC gamers voicing their frustrations 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 initial reveal in 2016, Lost Soul Aside has consistently showcased a unique blend of fantasy and realistic visuals. In an IGN interview on February 20, 2025, UltiZero Games CEO Yang Bing discussed the game's enduring style and inspirations.

Bing emphasized that the game's visual and combat style, characterized by high speed and flashy action, has remained consistent since its first promotional video. He noted, "So this is something that we have been sticking to for all these years. 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. So from the beginning, this personal trailer gradually evolved into a more mature and well-run version, I should say."

Bing also highlighted the influence of Final Fantasy 15 on Lost Soul Aside, particularly in the design of the protagonist, Kaser. Kaser's cartoonish facial features and hairstyles contrast with the realistic textures of his skin, hair, and clothing, embodying the game's fusion of fantasy and reality.

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

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

He pointed out that the design of Kaser is heavily influenced by the Final Fantasy series, aiming to merge realistic and fantasy elements. "I had a designer design the clothes for the main character, and I wanted to combine realistic and fantasy elements, just like in FF. After the clothes are designed, they are actually made and reproduced in the game. By doing so, we thought that the players would feel as if it actually existed, and that the main character, Kazel, would also feel as a bloody, realistic character," Bing explained.

Regarding combat, Bing cited Bayonetta, Ninja Gaiden, and Devil May Cry as key influences, emphasizing the game's fast-paced and flashy combat system. "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. Players can develop their own style, and even if they are not good at sequential moves, they can use various systems to achieve high performance and make the game go smoothly," he added.

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