For some time now, the game Stellar Blade has been shining as much for its content as for the controversies surrounding it. News has just broken out on the web with players particularly upset.
From its first trailer in 2019, Project EVE, or rather Stellar Blade, announced the color… In a swaying gait, the female character advanced into a desolate territory in an outfit that left little room for the imagination. From then on, questions arose as much about the content of the game as its portrayal of women.
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But, on April 26, the game of Shift Up has finally arrived on consoles and PC. The public was therefore finally able to gauge the interest of the game, which goes well beyond the appearance of its heroine. Despite Eve's sulphurous appearance, beat'em all has it in her stomach. However, it seems that the Korean studio has reconsidered some details, even if it means going back on its word.
Stellar Blade still in Eve outfit?
This was to be expected: as soon as it was announced, Eve's physique did as much, if not more talk, of the game Stellar Blade itself. Her chara-design, and more specifically her clothing, has been compared to other heroines, such as Lara Croft and Bayonetta, whose advantageous physique is far from being concealed, but who enjoy writing which gives them a very special interest. beyond their simple appearance. Would Eve demonstrate the same depth and agency? That was the question for many.
But, from the start, the Shift Up studio defended its inspirations. The creator of the game reports in particular having drawn on Barbarella imagery to create entertainment for a adult audience. Thus, Eve is given a plurality of outfits to try on, some being, it is true, more uncovered than others. But some obviously should have been even less covering…
This is what some players have noticed: outfits have been modified between the trailers and the release of the game. On Reddit, threads listing the changes made to outfits between the different versions of the game abound. Hundreds of users express their dissatisfaction. What is bothering them? Some outfit adjustments that have a few centimeters more “fabric” than what was provided in older versions of the game.
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Examples include swimwear less cut than originally or this outfit, above, to which opaque black tights were apparently added in order to cover the heroine's legs. Considering themselves to have been deceived by a “ uncensored advertising “, players petition on Change.org since April 26. Their motto: restore the initial spirit behind Stellar Blade, “ symbol of freedom of expression at a time when Sony censors its many games “. To date, the petition #FreeStellarBlade collected almost 44,000 signatures.
The studio had however guaranteed to offer the same uncensored content internationally. But this will not have deceived the attentive eye of a part of the public whose expectations were disappointed. The dissatisfied players are therefore determined to fight to restore “ freedom in the name of creativity “. Still on Reddit, some are calling for protests by demanding a refund for the game and canceling their PlayStation Plus subscription. Obviously, Shift Up and Sony have not finished with the controversies. To be continued…