While Korean developers SHIFT UP have yet to officially explain why they implemented a day-one censorship patch for their action game “Stellar Blade,” or the fact that they recently started filing ESG reports after going public, it’s clear that they haven’t yet succumbed to the trend of introducing unattractive masculine queer characters for easy financial gain, as evidenced by a recent free update to the game.
On July 26th, Shift Up released an update for ‘Stellar Blade,’ introducing new costumes and a limited-time area. This summer update seems to have significantly increased the player count.
The news was reported by TrueTrophies, and the game’s official Twitter account has confirmed and acknowledged this development.
Update v1.006, released on July 26th, introduced two new costumes (Nano Suits) and one new accessory. Additionally, a small limited-time summer vacation area was implemented in the Great Desert Oasis.
After this update, the player count increased significantly. According to data from TrueTrophies and GameInsights, which analyzed PlayStation Network (PSN) account gameplay, ‘Stellar Blade’ saw a 40.14% increase in player numbers.
The new Nano Suits played a significant role in this increase. Update v1.006 added the “Wave Oblique Monokini” and “Wave Diver Bikini,” featuring tan lines, which have certainly intrigued players to jump back in and acquire these costumes.
Moreover, the introduction of a limited-time area also seems to have contributed to the rise in player numbers. The update introduced a small area resembling a wooden deck in the Great Desert Oasis, complete with parasols, float rings, and a beach chair that Eve can actually sit on.
Although the duration of this area’s availability has not been announced, some players may have visited early to avoid missing out.
‘Stellar Blade’ faced criticism from Western gaming journalists leading up to its release, journalists accused the game of being inherently “sexist” and “problematic” due to its attractive and sexualized protagonist, Eve.
This is part of a broader trend, where Sony’s policies have influenced game content, reducing heterosexual fan service while allowing grotesque games on its system to release unmodified so long as it was made in the West and or features queer themes, such as Baldur’s Gate 3, The Last of Us Part 2 and Life is Strange.
SHIFT UP, the developers behind ‘Stellar Blade,’ are also known for their successful mobile gacha game, ‘Goddess of Victory: NIKKE,’ which continues to generate significant revenue with its appealing characters and engaging gameplay.
While ‘Stellar Blade’ may not be as captivating or fun to play as older titles like ‘Devil May Cry,’ it offers a refreshing alternative for consumers tired of games featuring deliberately unattractive female characters and progressive ideologies. It’s not groundbreaking, but it sure as shit is pleasing to the eyes.
Gaming journalists criticized the game for being sexist, claiming its protagonist “wasn’t realistic,” despite SHIFT UP capturing her likeness from a Korean model.
Interestingly, modern progressive game developers in the West also use 3D scanning to capture the likeness of actors and actresses, it’s actually the norm for modern game design if you didn’t already know.
However, when it comes to capturing the likeness of women by Western game studios, their scanning tools seem to “glitch,” resulting in masculine and androgynous character models that look nothing like their actresses. I’m sure there’s no ulterior motive as to why that may be.
They also smeared gamers, labeling them as disgusting sexist pigs. There’s no doubt that the main marketing ploy of ‘Stellar Blade’ was the attractive nature of its protagonist, Eve, with alluring costumes serving as the game’s primary appeal. Eventually, ‘Stellar Blade’ launched as a timed third-party exclusive on Sony’s PlayStation 5.
The problem is that for their first major game, developers SHIFT UP seemingly sold their soul to Sony in exchange for funding and marketing. This decision bound the game to Sony’s console platform, which is notorious for censoring Asian-made video games featuring fan service.
‘Stellar Blade’ was censored upon release, with its blood and gore toned down and two outfits altered to be less revealing, despite SHIFT UP’s public declaration that the game would release uncensored in all regions.
This false advertising outraged me and countless others, leading gamers to lobby a social campaign to “Free Stellar Blade” from Sony’s oppression.
After nearly 100,000 signatures were gathered on a petition, SHIFT UP eventually reintroduced the uncensored outfits as optional extras. However, they have yet to officially explain why the game was altered through a day-one update at Sony’s behest.
Though it seems they are more than making up for the initial censorship with continued free updates. These updates include new bikini costumes that are even more alluring than the censored ones, along with new areas, music, and an interactable sunbed for added immersion.
Since its release, the game has received multiple free updates, including a camera mode, new modes like boss challenges and additional Nano Suits, which have garnered significant attention from the community. The bold designs of the new Nano Suits have also been well-received in cutscenes. Future updates with additional content are planned, and players have high expectations.
Whether or not these gradual updates, whether permanent or limited-time additions serve as a sufficient apology for the day-one censorship patch, imposed by Sony, remains a matter of personal opinion.
SHIFT UP, with Tencent as a major investor, has gone public and is now required to file ESG reports. These reports may not necessarily align with the company’s focus on creating attractive game content. Despite these challenges, SHIFT UP continues to cater to gamers for the time being, with ‘Stellar Blade’ exceeding sales expectations and selling over one million copies at release.
The likelihood of a PC port in the future is high, as Sony would not pass up the opportunity for free money. However, a PC release will require players to create and link a PlayStation Network account, which will deter some potential customers. Nonetheless, for the time being, SHIFT UP’s games are certainly resonating with gamers, unlike so many others in the West.
