“Stellar Blade” received respectable ratings at launch. And most players seem to be even happier based on the user score. Wouldn't there be a problem that basically makes it unplayable – as a matter of principle.
“Stellar Blade,” another PS5 exclusive title, has been on the market since last week. The quite bloody title was created by the South Korean developer Shift Up. Sony Interactive Entertainment acts as publisher.
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The two companies mentioned are currently facing hostility. The reason sounds quite bizarre and is likely to damage the reputation of the gamer community.
Eve costume shows slightly less chest after patch
Parallel to the launch of “Stellar Blade”, a day one patch landed on the PlayStation Network that made final changes. About the included New Game Plus Mode we recently reported. The update also brings a little more material into the game, making two additional costumes for protagonist Eve look less porn-like.
Corresponding design changes affect the Holiday Rabbit and Cybernetic Bondage costumes, which now reveal less breasts. Below is a comparison that shows the costume change.
There were then violent protests on social networks. Players complained about censorship, called for a boycott of “Stellar Blade” and to claim refunds for games they had already purchased. Other interested parties were also advised to purchase the disk version and leave it unpatched. This means that buyers miss out on important improvements and functions, but at least there is a little more skin to admire.
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At the same time, one shot at the weekend petition skyrocketed and the associated hashtag #FreeStellarBlade spread on social networks. More than 43,000 participants have now left their digital signature, calling for the return of additional breast views.
It's about the principle
The critics also admitted that the minimal design change to two of Eve's costumes has no impact on the gameplay and the general gaming experience. But as a matter of principle, the game – which many of them really like – will now be boycotted.
A statement from Shift Up was also heatedly discussed. Before the launch, the developer announced that “Stellar Blade” would be available in all regions is sold uncut.
However, the focus of this announcement was on the Japanese market, where bloody games of this type face a major hurdle and usually have to be significantly defused in order to be released. Otherwise there is a risk of a sales ban, which in turn brought Electronic Arts into action:
Shift Up speaks out and would like to provide further explanation
During a design phase, regardless of the product, multiple concepts are often created, refined, expanded and sometimes discarded again – even after market launch. Subsequent changes are also not uncommon in video games.
But how did the criticized adaptation come about in the case of “Stellar Blade”? Director Hyung-Tae Kim was asked about the costume changes during a launch event, but defended himself against the accusations.
“The last costume we wanted to show you is actually the costume [im Patch]“, are his words. At the same time, he admitted that this answer “may not be enough to convince our users” and that discussions on this topic are ongoing “internally”. A comprehensive statement on the alleged censorship is likely to follow.
But how credible is the statement from the director of “Stellar Blade”? It's worth taking a look at other additional costumes that are still available for Eve, but reveal the same amount of chest as the replaced models of the exciting costumes mentioned above. If there was censorship aimed at covering more skin, the developer would have acted quite inconsistently.
Ultimately, the controversy sparked over the weekend over the allegedly censored freedom of movement of the protagonist Eve is likely to cast a negative light on the gamer community.
Also Forbes took on the topic and wrote: “From an outside perspective, it is strange that players are so adamant on this point, as these costumes are still very revealing and in the same regions where these costumes have been “censored”. or two dozen other costumes that are just as revealing, if not more revealing.”
Further news about Stellar Blade.
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