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

Lost Soul Aside's upcoming release has stirred significant frustration among PC gamers due to its region-locking on Steam. This article delves into the implications of the region lock and highlights key 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’ much-anticipated title, Lost Soul Aside, will launch with a region lock affecting over 130 countries. This decision, rooted in Sony's restrictions, has left many gamers disappointed as the game will not be accessible in regions unsupported by PlayStation Network (PSN).

Interestingly, despite the region lock, Lost Soul Aside does not necessitate a PSN account for play. The irony is palpable, as players in restricted regions would need to create a new Steam account in a PSN-supported country to access the game. This requirement is particularly baffling given PlayStation's recent move to eliminate PSN account requirements for its PC titles. The backlash on social media and gaming forums has been swift, with many PC gamers expressing their discontent and vowing not to purchase 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 realism in its visuals. In an IGN interview on February 20, 2025, UltiZero Games CEO Yang Bing elaborated on the game's enduring aesthetic and combat style. Bing emphasized that the game's style, including its high-speed and flashy action, has remained true to its original vision.

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."

The protagonist, Kaser, exemplifies this blend, featuring cartoonish facial features and hairstyles juxtaposed against realistic textures for his skin, hair, and clothing. Bing has previously credited Final Fantasy 15 as a significant influence in this stylistic approach.

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 a February 20, 2025 interview with Famitsu, Bing detailed how these influences shape the game's design and mechanics.

The character design of Kaser, for instance, heavily reflects the influence of Final Fantasy. Bing explained, "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."

In terms of combat, Bing cited Bayonetta, Ninja Gaiden, and Devil May Cry for their fast-paced, flashy action. He added, "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."

Lost Soul Aside is slated for release on May 30, 2025, on PlayStation 5 and PC. For the latest updates and more in-depth coverage on Lost Soul Aside, keep an eye on our upcoming articles.