PlayStation Will Refund Stellar Blade Digital Copies Over Claim Of False Advertisement

PlayStation will refund digital copies of Shift Up's latest action adventure game, Stellar Blade, over the claim of false advertisement.

[badz149]

WOW. speechless

[CrimsonWing69]

You know what’s funny? I bet you if a game like GTA 6 that said it was going to be uncensored then went ahead and censored content and people wanted refunds, you wouldn’t be speechless.

What I don’t get is how is this difficult to see how this has become sending a message to the industry? People want this to stop no matter how small you think it is or dumb, they just want there to be no censorship. Had Shift Up just up and came out with the censored outfits and toned down blood effects from the beginning and never showed off the uncensored stuff this wouldn’t have been an issue. It’s the principle behind the changes that irked many.

How do you propose people go about trying to let Sony know to knock off this censorship? And if this was the outfit always intended and not censorship, then why won’t Shift Up just include the outfit as it was before? Case would’ve been closed and everyone but the SJW crowd would be happy.

[staticall]

@CrimsonWing69
Freaking A, man. I can't fathom why it's so hard to understand for some people. It's duffel bag from Fallout 69 all over again, they advertise one thing and you're getting the other. And it doesn't matter how small the change is. And those changes are never made in customers favor, quite the opposite. This is why we can't have nice things. And some people are defending this, pfffft.

And before people claim it's not censorship or it was unfinished model or whatever - every change was "cover this up", "tone down that". This is telling. And there's a really easy change to satisfy both - make both old and censored versions as separate costumes, problem solved. But nope, why can't they do that? Or add a switch "How much blood you want on Eve body during gory scenes?" with options "Like before", "Toned down" and "No blood". Then developers keep their promise of no censorship, everyone is happy. But, again, no.

[Babadook7]

Was there any evidence that Sony censored the product as opposed to Shift Up? I thought the director said it was his decision.

[CrimsonWing69]

@Babadook7

Have you seen their previous mobile games like Nikke? Have you seen the post censorship patches they’ve released? The coverups are the same.

The game was shipped with those costumes already done… this wasn’t a work in progress. It’s not a single outfit, either. Tons of promotional material showed various outfits that have been censored.

Have you seen Sony’s stance on game censorship? Oh and what about the blood spilling all over her? Did you know Sony has censored violent/gory content in the past? Look up Martha is Dead… only censored on Sony’s platform.

Do you really think Shift Up is going to bite the hand that feeds them by throwing Sony under the bus? Why the need to “discuss internally?” If it’s truly in the hands of the devs and Sony has no influence on the decision whatsoever, why not just include them back into the game?

Now, I’m no detective, but can we put two and two together?

[romulus23]

I would be. It's ridiculous for anyone to want a refund over a change to one characters outfit becasue you can't then ogle a digital characters hips and cleavage regardless of what game it was.

[Profchaos]

I live in Australia I'm first in line to buy GTA games and it's worth noting the GTA v is the only game in the series since GTA 3 that has arrived uncensored here. With Rockstar so used to censoring the game they volunteer to remove the blood soaked clothes aspect of IV before ratings submission.

Point is we don't know what we will lose at all pre GTA SA we sat around trying to figure that out will we have to have burglary cut will the came get banned outright etc and it's still the number one selling game and small aspects of the game like the ability to pick up hookers and select your service don't even enter gamers minds when buying a game like GTA because the reality is yeah it's there but how often are you likely to do it.

When I look at the stellar blade thing this is so extraordinarily minor I just don't get how it got so far it's a small aspects in the front of a character you spend 80 percent of the time looking at from behind

[Babadook7]

@Crimsonwings

I wasn’t asking for detective work. So I see no evidence it was Sony. Just wanted to check if there was any. The dev did claim responsibility. Maybe they were forced, maybe not. Let’s not claim it was Sony without evidence to back it up. All evidence as of now is to the contrary. IE the developer claims they did this internally and are looking into a resolution internally.

[CrimsonWing69]

@Babadook

If history has shown us anything it’s to not always believe things at face value. Sony has a history of extreme censorship. Shift Up has had a history of being forced to put out censored patches for their work. Do you know how they censor their games? I’ll give you a hint, it’s exactly the same way they did for several of the outfits in this game. You don’t make an outfit with strategically placed holes one way to show off assets and then all of a sudden patch covering the exposed skin out.

If you think Shift Up is going to say, “Sony made us do it,” then you’re incredibly naive. They are the distributor and have now established a business relationship. It’s not far fetched to believe Sony wanted to save face and said Shift Up can say whatever as long as they don’t mention them.

Do we know? Of course not, but OJ Simpson said he didn’t “do it,” and when you look back at all the history and put two and two together you can see why most people didn’t say, “Well he said he didn’t do it, so that’s that!”

Open your eyes. When you make a game like this and show promotional material with unaltered outfits and have them included in the shipped out game… it makes no sense that at the last minute they were like, “Oh these are really the designs we meant all along! Damn the pre-production and years spent already finalizing the outfits and blood effects. This is REALLY what we wanted.”

You can be some blind fanboy, but again it ain’t like Sony doesn’t have a heavy censor hammer they like to use. There’s an incredible amount of examples of it being used and unfairly against Asian developed games. Let me add to the fact that there is NO nudity and NO sexual content in this game… yet they tone it down on the blood spilling on the character that washes off in the rain scene and altered multiple outfits, specifically covering exposed skin in an outfit that IS designed to expose skin. 🤷‍♂️

But hey, you’re free to believe what you want, just as we all are.

[Babadook7]

“If you think Shift Up is going to say, “Sony made us do it,” then you’re incredibly naive.”

@Crimson
Why? Where’s the proof? You bring up the issue of other platforms. Was there proof of it there? In Stellar there are more revealing pieces of clothing left untouched. Which makes it seem the devs reason is correct.

“They are the distributor and have now established a business relationship. It’s not far fetched to believe Sony wanted to save face and said Shift Up can say whatever as long as they don’t mention them.”

It’s too far fetched to make your assumptions. Yes. The dev could easily have said the truth.

[CrimsonWing69]

@Babadook7

Yea, we can keep doing this endless waltz, here. I think this is just one of those situations where we’ll just have to agree to disagree.

You think this is Shift Up’s decision. I think it’s a Sony decision. That’s just where we are and neither one of us is going to convince the other differently.

[Babadook7]

@Crimson

The big difference you need to bear in mind is you’re the one making the claim (accusation) and have the burden of proof therefore. I don’t.

[CrimsonWing69]

@Babadook7

I can live with that burden just fine, buddy.

[Babadook7]

You can live without meeting your burden I guess. What choice do you have? There’s no proof of anything you’ve claimed.

[CrimsonWing69]

@Babadook7

Yea that’s what criminals try to say when they’re hoping not to get caught and yet them detective skills seem to break that down.

“Oh you don’t have any proof!”

Yep, just Y’know Sony’s past history with censorship, Skill Up strategic fabric to cover their previous designs in games that received censored patches, and how a game shipped after going gold with unaltered blood effects and outfits, but then a 2nd patch made them the way they’re “supposed” to be… as if years of game development and pre production designs somehow only quickly got finished after not the 1st patch, but the 2nd 🙄. Like, these outfits with strategically placed holes to expose skin, but to cover up the front of the chest… which is sort of the pattern you’re seeing in the censored designs. Let’s also pretend like they didn’t just enter into a business relationship with Sony and can’t exactly throw them under the bus to ruin said new relationship…

Y’know what this is like? It’s like the kid who wasn’t allowed to get in the cookie jar. You come to find out there’s cookies missing and when you confront him he says, “I didn’t do it, you don’t have evidence!” Yet there’s a cookie crumb trail leading to him and he has that sh*t all over his mouth… but hey he said he didn’t do it and I don’t have proof, what can you do but live a burdened life 🤷‍♂️

Sometimes I wish I didn’t have common sense and could believe everything I hear, too. Life would be dandy!

[Babadook7]

@Crimson.

You don’t have cookie crumbs on Sonys face though. You’ve got the other guy saying he ate it.

None of your crack pot sleuthing adds up to evidence that out weighs that admission by the dev.

And again if Sony was guilty why not remove the more egregious skin suit outright?

[CrimsonWing69]

@Babadook

Guess we’ll just agree to disagree.

I honestly can’t see how anyone can look at this and say it’s not Sony when you’ve had Shift Up release games with uncensored designs in the past and was forced to censor designs in the exact same way. But crackpot theory here… 🙄

Then you have a corporation that’s the worst when it comes to censorship.

So, it’s really hard to ignore the connections, but you can think whatever you want and I’ll do the same. I mean at this point it’s like trying to explain the planet’s round to a flat Earther. It’s just one of those things where neither one can convince the other no matter how much you try to show the other.

[Babadook7]

When were Shift up forced to censor their game? Is there proof they were forced in the past?

[CrimsonWing69]

@Baba

I can’t tell if you’re trolling me or not.

Do you Google things?

Destiny Child:

https://www.reddit.com/r/De...

NIKKE:

https://youtu.be/Ol0ZA7g79E...

https://www.reddit.com/r/ga...

Like, you’re messing with me, right? I mean, at this point I’m not sure if there’s anything further we can discuss except go down the Dumb and Dumber route of not being able to “Can too, double stamped it, no erasies!” bit. Give me a break here…

What’s next? A “Not uh” and “Yea huh” song and dance? You believe what you hear at face value. I wish I didn’t have common sense to put pieces together and be all gullible to take things at face value. If you look at all the outfits censored you’ll notice a pattern, it’s frontal breast covering. Look at a majority of the designs? Yea there’s a swim suit one, but the rest seem to hide shit with bows, netting, or whatever in a very specific area. Maybe there’s a quota? Who knows, when has censorship really made sense in these instances?

Remember Zelda Ocarina of Time censoring blood from red to green? Like, what’s the point—oh, you probably think that was the final vision, too. My bad, my crackpot theories here.

[Babadook7]

@Crimson

Ok. I asked a pretty basic question. Had you had a good answer, I’d expect a clear, non rambling response. Nope. Nothing clear about it and you’re just kind of monologging again.

Where is the evidence that Nikke was not toned down by the studio? Where’s the evidence it was forced on them by another organization? They wanted the game to be under a 12+. There’s your answer. How is that being forced on them? They chose the demographic and could have gone 18+ if they wanted.

I hope you’re learning not to make outlandish claims. Yikes.

[VariantAEC]

It couldn't be clearer that you didn't play the game. There are outfits where EVE (who in the lore of the game is a CHILD, which she herself admits before the game's mid-point [in English and in 한국어; no typos or translation errors it's in both languages] ) wears much less than the Holiday Rabbit/Bunny suit. Literal bikinis are available in game and that is post what everyone here is calling "censorship."
This censorship crud is completely overblown. If you played the game looking for nothing more than T'n'A you really would not care about this 'issue' at all.

[VariantAEC]

@staticall
"Freaking A, man. I can't fathom why it's so hard to understand for some people. It's duffel bag from Fallout 69 all over again, they advertise one thing and you're getting the other."
No, it really isn't.

[itsmebryan]

Some guys can really be weird. They will get a refund on a game because they can't have a skimpy outfit on thei character in a game.?

The game must not be very good if the outfit is the deal breaker for the game. And before tou get on your high horse about freedom. Things change for many reasons in the final product.

Smh

[DarXyde]

The issue is it was said, by the developers, to launch uncensored.

Personally, I don't care if they censored it to get it out there.

But this is not a last minute, eleventh hour decision. Someone clearly knew this was coming. And I suppose in the literal sense, it's true that the game launched uncensored, but it also received a day one patch.

If we take for example Todd Howard saying you can fully explore every planet of Starfield and the game turned out amazing, guess what? If there are boundaries on the planet, they lied. People can still enjoy the game, but don't bloody lie about what it is when you KNOW this isn't what the consumer is going to get.

It's dishonest practice. The censorship does not detract from my enjoyment of the game. But I also don't appreciate being lied to. The Hard R thing made sense to patch out. Genuine mistake.

But when you campaign on your game being uncensored in its expression, you can't do this. It built hype and dropped the news on people's heads at launch. It's kind of like EA holding off on butchering UFC until like a month after reviews came in.

Not difficult to understand.

[CobraKai]

Not a big picture guy are ya.

Smh

[Elda]

Agreed. The game is so fun to play but these whiners are upset over one outfit that supposedly was changed. So be it, these whiners are missing out on playing a fun game.

[InUrFoxHole]

@Itsmebryan
The game looks like trash to me so I won't be buying it but I think you are missing the point. Forget about how you feel about the outfits. The devs and sony put out a game then said... now that you purchased this game we are going to subtract from it. If you don't think that's wrong then you have to ask why are they issuing refunds for false advertisement? I'll help you out on this one... Because it's wrong. Now instead of treading lightly gamers should request refunds in mass. Vote with your wallet

[senorfartcushion]

Virgins will virgin

[Solitariussaint]

Good. Now these guys and gals can buy the physical version like they should have done to begin with and not download the patch.... Or not.

Either way it's a win-win because these players get their refund and Sony remembers this in the future so it won't happen again even though the game is uncensored without the patch.

Bring on Stellar Blade 2!

[Redemption-64]

Yeah, that would show them. Am going to cancel and not buy your game, then buy it again. Sony will surely learn their lesson

[jlove4life]

They get less money on physical so yeah they might learn a lesson

[Profchaos]

Hey physical needs all the love it can get these days so even if it's a silly reason I'd like to see that

[Redemption-64]

@jlove4life

Yeah, that is some hard lesson by taking the money

[Extermin8or3_]

This is insane people. The explanation that it was the unfinished model of that costume and they updated to correct that is plausible and that it makes no sense to censor this outfit and not all the more revealing ones. The patches were even issued before the game launched.

[jambola]

Was there any outfit changes that just changes but didn't cover more?

[CrimsonWing69]

So if people want it back, how hard is it to change the mesh and include the original variants?

I don’t mean to offend by saying this, but I feel you’re one of those people who could watch a speech from the government and be like, “Well they said they explained they weren’t involved so that it’s true and that’s that!”

Keep in mind it wasn’t just several outfits that have been covered up like we’ve seen in many games. Do you really think the creators of Nikke (which has also been censored in the exact same ways) would really want to cover up hips and cleavage?

Not only that but the blood effect of covering her in red and letting the rain wash it off was censored. What’s the reasoning behind that? Because it was intended?

Let’s look at things Sony has censored:

https://screenrant.com/mart...

(This is only censored on Sony’s platform and uncensored on the others)

Or who could forget this one:

https://www.vg247.com/devil...

(That must be Capcom’s intended vision though and only for the Western PS4 release, right?)

I’m going to challenge you with this question, if it isn’t a big deal and Shift Up sees a strong demand for the unaltered versions of the costumes that’s leading to the loss of sales, then WHY not bring them back in and tell everyone not to sweat about it? It’s not hard, these are mesh changes and modders can tell you how quick it would be to change it back.

There was no “unfinished” design. That was in the base game from the moment the game went GOLD. Sony is maybe the worst of the 3 when it comes to censorship as presented in the links that are specific to only Sony’s platform.

People are tired of this and they’re making a statement with their wallets. Isn’t that what I see in these damn comment sections about GaaS and pre-ordering games that are busted on release? Vote with your wallets?

[Huey_My_D_Long]

Ok so you are proposing that the devs lied. So get your refund or fund a developer you say is lieing. If you think Sony is responsible, just sell your playstation, and show Sony yall mean business. But yall wont do it, and the refunds will be miniscule and Sony won't care, because I guarantee not enough are upset over changes to make such a statement, and until yall do, everything online is just whining about a company's

Make a stand on this if yall want. Some of us think there are better reasons to protest on the state of the real world, but make your stand if yall want.

[CrimsonWing69]

@Huey

Listen, I get everyone’s passionate about one stance or another on this. We’ve always seemed to wrastle over things on here in the past.

I want to try to challenge us to engage in a dialogue here that doesn’t get ugly.

Just because I don’t agree with Sony’s censorship stance doesn’t mean I need to give up on them. This is about making a change.

It’s easy to say there’s better things to take a stand on or say there’s “bigger problems” in the world to focus efforts on when it’s something you’re not invested in. We’re passionate about this hobby, like let’s make no mistakes about it here, people who could give two sh*ts about video games sees us all as pathetic nerds. The fact that you’re on a video game aggregate news site taking time to comment just as passionately as the opposing side can also be looked at as pathetic by those people.

My point is we’re invested and passionate about this hobby. Take the content being censored out of the equation. This is more a situation of being poked enough by a stick and it’s an ear flick that now set things off. Yes, this is small, but the campaign this company went with was NO censorship and they rallied that to the point that this Became like a poster child for a change in the industry. That creators can make games based on their vision and not compromised by social politics.

Take something you’re passionate about media-wise. Imagine if I had no interest in it, but instead forced people to change the content in it to cater to MY wants and take away what you enjoyed about it. Do you not feel like there’s a justified reaction to voice disapproval, to want a change?

I think Sony has the best variety of games I like. What am I supposed to do? Go to Xbox with their abysmal selection? Go to Nintendo with their downgraded visuals and non current-gen level games?

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to stick with a platform, but want them to change policies. I’m not saying every game needs to tip in the favor of what I only want. It would be preferable to have games for both sides without one side attacking the other side’s game that they have NO interest in buying just to eliminate the content that doesn’t cater to their preferences.

Is that really so absurd?

[Huey_My_D_Long]

@Crimson Wing69 Since you put it so nicely. :)
Look sometimes the censorship is warranted. Sometimes it isnt.
Censorship I think we all agree with (hopefully) is censoring the loli stuff that comes out of Japan. Not every instance of censorship I'd agree with. You've actually given 1 examples I can agree that Sony went too far. (The DMC Butt thing is annoying, just honestly not as big as the other example) And I agree I'll go with artistic expression over publishers any day of the week.

I simply disagree that this game was censored. If Sony censored 1 skin and left 20 other skins thats shows more skin, itd be the most pointless act. Imagine if in Game of Thrones in one scene the directors decide to re edit an outfit in a scene, because they felt it didnt fit the tone of the scene well, made her more modest, but left all of the titties and such in. and then people cried censorship

Maybe if the game patched all the outfits to be more modest, then I wouldnt be so smug in dismissing this, probably would even agree. But unless the Devs come out and say sony pressured them in this, instead of saying what they said. I think if you are gonna make a statement with a game, it should be clear cut. This aint it.

"Take something you’re passionate about media-wise. Imagine if I had no interest in it, but instead forced people to change the content in it to cater to MY wants and take away what you enjoyed about it. Do you not feel like there’s a justified reaction to voice disapproval, to want a change?"

Again, you seem to be blowing up the response. One costume with a shirt added. You still have the skin tight suit, the school girl one, and 18 other costumes that cater to your taste that wasn't touched? Again, the only people that say censorship is you guys. If you wont believe Shift Up but if sony was forced to censor, Shift Up can say so. They aren't owned by Sony.

[VariantAEC]

There are more revealing outfits than this. Why were those more revealing outfits not censored POST-PATCH?

Hm... no answer. That is what I figured.

[Huey_My_D_Long]

Bruh it's too late for these people.

[Tacoboto]

They're so pathetic it's hilarious.

Damn great game, loving it so far, and it's hysterical seeing people seriously try comparing this to governmental coverups 🤣 Lol

[senorfartcushion]

I think it's hilarious.

At least try Hinge or something 😂

[Traecy]

The complaints from the small amount of people about a cosmetic change in a videogame is totally laughable...including bonkers. A small amount of miserable people are always the loudest. The game is amazing.

[LoveSpuds]

Honestly, you have to be some kind of loon to be that bothered, especially when there are far more revealing costumes in the game anyway, I guess folk just love a conspiracy theory these days.

To extremists on both end of this decade, buy the game and play it, it's a fucking rad action game!

[Hugodastrevas]

Nice gaslighting, people have the right to ask for a refund if they were sold one product and got another. It's not up to you or Sony to decide what others can enjoy.

[Eonjay]

I disagree. You got people making their decisions based on what they read on Twitter and watch on YouTube. If they can tell people what to think. Why not him, or Sony, or anyone else for that matter.

[Hugodastrevas]

@Eonjay did people on Twitter or YouTube sell a product and delivered another? No, that was Sony.
So, yeah, nice try.

[Christopher]

So, an inconsequential element to the 'product' was altered for solely visual reasons and that ruins, let alone in any way changes, the 'actual' product? Amazing logic here.

[Hugodastrevas]

@Christopher do you have any argument besides an appeal to apathy?
I bought a product I want that product, unadulterated as advertised. That is all.

[Christopher]

*** I bought a product I want that product, unadulterated as advertised. That is all. ***

If you can prove you knew about this specific skin prior to purchase, then I'll give you a point. Until then, you bought a product w/o being informed on the graphical choices throughout and are throwing a hissy fit because the developers, no one else, made slight modifications to one of many 'sexy' skin options that don't at all affect the game, its gameplay, its story, or anything else. Heck, I guarantee if no one told you this via the internet that it had been changed, you would still be playing this game, unaware of the change at all.

This is just faux anger. All it is.

[Hugodastrevas]

@Christopher I don't think you get it, I don't need to prove I knew of the outfit before buying, the outfit is on the disc and the tampering is on the update.
They have sold me a product then tampered with it.
It's as simple as that.

[DOMination-]

In that case, you better go get a refund on every game purchased within the last 10 years.

With a few rare exceptions, no game is the same as advertised post-launch, for better or for worse, patches significantly alter them. If you're so all-in on your stance and policy, then that means you should be demanding a refund for a game like Cyberpunk 2077 - something that's now objectively better but nonetheless very different to what was advertised. Maybe that's a poor example due to the issues that game had at launch but you get the point.

[Hugodastrevas]

@DOMination- If I felt it took from the experience I would, a lot of people refunded Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man's Sky and many more, so?
Apples and oranges.

[Christopher]

*** They have sold me a product then tampered with it. ***

Yeah, just FYI, you agree to that before you even start the game. So, you know, stop being an uninformed gamer. They literally tell you they will make updates like this. You should have returned the game as soon as you had to agree to that.

[Hugodastrevas]

@Christopher no no no my friend, you don't get to shift your position like that.
You said I didn't know it was supposed to be a certain way, I proved it was, you don't get to turn around and say "so you accepted it".
I accepted the product I bought not the tampering with it. It's on them to fix it not the customer.

[Christopher]

***@Christopher no no no my friend, you don't get to shift your position like that.
You said I didn't know it was supposed to be a certain way, I proved it wa***

Umm, no no no to you.

You were supposed to prove you knew that the outfit looked a specific way before you purchased it. You completely side stepped that and made it about a game getting updates after launch, which edits content that was originally downloaded or on the disc. I merely answered your sidestep statement.

This is quite a dumb argument since patches happen regularly and most often modify the content in many ways. But you're using it to try and act like one change, which you still haven't proved you knew happened without the Internet telling you it happened, is the problem while not complaining when they do the exact same thing to update the game in other ways. And when you play the game you agree to an EULA that allows them to make these changes in the first place.

Now, you can make another goal post move on this topic if you want and try and act like I'm the one ignoring the conversation, but I'm certain I'll have an answer for your next sidestep while you still haven't answered my first claim of you not knowing what the outfit looked like before you bought it

[Hugodastrevas]

@Christopher they promoted it as uncensored, sold it uncensored, then censored it. These are all facts.

Guess Sony only learns this when they're sued like the PS3/Linux debacle, you can't just change it halfway and pretend you can do whatever because EULA.

[Christopher]

***@Christopher they promoted it as uncensored, sold it uncensored, then censored it. These are all facts.***

Got proof of that first 'fact' there?

Let alone, and again to ask, if someone on the internet had not told you about this, would have known at all?

[VariantAEC]

@Christopher
I don't normally agree with you. But you are 100% right here. The game is great and adding a mesh with lace textures over a single costume doesn't impact my experience with this game at all. And because I didn't play the demo as thoroughly as others and didn't play that far into the game before updating. I didn't see any changes (outside of the blood splatter being omitted later, which I did notice that and that is kind of a weird omission). It's nothing that makes me feel like the game is being cut-back the story is dark as hell and Eve is a child anyway (she says as much, so these guys are just showing who they are now). Sad to be lumped amongst them simply because I play it (and yes the female GS employee gave me a strange look when I pre-ordered this one). I personally think Tachy is much hotter, but not many people share that sentiment and I know what happens to her later...

These beta males got their panties twisted and can't answer one simple question... why did Shift Up leave in WAY more revealing costumes if this was Sony's call? If this was Sony's doing why didn't they force Shist Up to cover Eve up more in all the way more revealing costumes? It just doesn't pass the sniff test. Also, none of these people know how conservative Korea is. Asian nations are generally more conservative, but Eve would be considered pretty - I'm not sure I'm allowed to even say that here [talk about censorship, 😂] - unless she is already with or explicitly courting a sexual partner (which Eve is NOT doing) and even then it would be seen as a bit much. On top of that most of these costumes are tame compared to many Japanese games costumes. As is the way Eve moves, talks, and acts. She acts like a tightly programmed killing machine at first, which she literally is. It just so happens that she is also really cute or pretty or deeply sexually attractive. Hgoing by how most are reacting to this costume change they're definitely in that latter group - these boys need an adult, female companion in their lives.

[StoneTitan]

Its censorship dude. If you are for it just say it. I am against it but I do think the adjusted costumes look better.

[Huey_My_D_Long]

Censor one outfit and leave the other more lewd designs in? Totally doesn't make sense.
Yeah the company reason of it being the final design for the game makes waaay more sense than yall conspiracy

[StoneTitan]

They also took out the some gore. So your argument falls right there. Its censorship.

[VariantAEC]

@StoneTitan
No one is arguing about the actual censorship of blood splatter. Everyone is seemingly way more upset about this one character outfit. On top of that they ignore that the update adds in NG+. So one outfit not even that outrageously sexy outfit is more important than the rest of the games' replayability? Where does this begin and end? Is NG+ not worth one changed (but still provocative) costume (with many more unaltered and way skimpy costumes still being in the game) and one possible bug or possibly censored gore worth going back to the version on the disc? If they removed content and added nothing I could understand. Additionally, they did censor some graffiti supposedly in the Day-1 patch too which I also didn't see (unless it was in the demo, in which case I just didn't notice the change in the full game release). But again... everyone here is making this about some textured polygons being added to cover JUST ONE OUTFIT. Not many outfits, they didn't turn Eve in to an elderly fat man or otherwise alter her appearance. Just the one outfit some graffiti and the reduced gore (the latter of the three listed changes was probably done to appease Germany if it was about censorship and not a bug introduced in the patch).

[itsmebryan]

@love
I totally agree with you. I had to read the whole article to make sure I wasn't missing something. All this for a skimpy outfit.
Call it censorship or not, they are complaining about something that doesn't affect gameplay. I don't buy or play games just to ogle my character. Weird.

[Huey_My_D_Long]

But they changed a core feature!!!

Nah I agree with ya. Some People love crying victim,

[Elda]

Agreed. I could care or couldn't care less about the game's risque outfits or the outfits being censored. My concern is gameplay first & foremost & so far Stellar Blade is stellar in that dept. The game is a joy to play & I've been having fun playing the game all this weekend. I can't wait to buy the full soundtrack as well.

[VariantAEC]

The platforming... is not good (or just not intuitive to me). But other than that, I have no complaints.

[senorfartcushion]

There are no extremists, just weird geeks.

[VariantAEC]

There are definitely extremists and most of them are weird geeks.

[Simundo]

Can't say fairer than returning the money to those who are upset.

If punters do get refunds though I hope they continue to support Shift Up and buy it physical and unpatched and show their annoyance at Sony in other ways. I have bought mine with PSN credit and have a digital PS5 so won't be refunding as I want Shift Up to get my money still.

Although I'd rather the console makers left the devs well alone on decisions like this that's not realistic and they will have the final say. The downside of third party exclusivity and consolidation I guess. To few companies having the final word in what's released.

The changes are minor though and there's still so much T'n'A in the game I'd still say the game is a victory for those who support EVE's image over those that feel it's unrealistic, sexist or an embarrassment to gaming.

If the patched version had gone out for review and nobody was none the wiser about the changes then the game would still be praised by the pro EVE camp for it's depiction of a sexy and beautiful women. So I would say buying the patched version is still a victory on that front of the argument.

[Crows90]

I get what you're saying but that would be a fake victory...something doesn't stop being bad if no one knows about it.

[Simundo]

I think you always have to be wary of censorship for the wrong reasons like pandering to ratings boards from countries with draconian views, interfering with the devs vision or appeasing an angry mob who should stay offended.

But I think people see the SB changes in the view of some larger fight against wokeism, cancel culture or the tip of some evil censorship iceberg etc... when it really doesn't belong there.

When you look at the patched version that's released it's still full of T'n'A with outfits left "uncensored" that reveal more then the changed one(s). Sony has still put out a game that's a sexist, unrealistic teenagers wet dream if you want to view that way. The game will still upset all the same people as it did before. Sony have still put out a "controversial" game.

When it comes to extremes of the argument the pro EVE people have got a game much closer to their liking than those who think she's an embarrassment to gaming and sexist. Buying the patched version is still a victory against those who say a depiction of a woman like EVE has no place in gaming.

If you don't want to buy it or want a refund because you feel you've been sold a lie by the minor changes then I would say that the "censorship" is mild in the extreme and doesn't represent some wider issue of worrisome censorship.

I'd just say though if your do feel that way still support the game and Shift Up and find another way to let Sony know you're not happy.

[Barlos]

The biggest way to show your annoyance is to get a refund and don't buy it at all.

[senorfartcushion]

I doubt the reviewers noticed such an unimportant detail regarding this optional costume you have to hunt and find in the game world by chance -

- before any guides were produced.

[vTuro24]

Unreal. They already have the assets. Instead of giving people what they want, they double down on shoving their world view down people's throat. A few clowns who got higher up have to ruin it for many just to appease a few other glue eating clowns. Those who think it's only a few pieces of cloth need to wake the fuck up and realise the actual, bigger issue here.

[Eonjay]

Bro its a costume not a world view... Perhaps, you are being a drama queen? No? It is NOT bigger than a piece of cloth. LOL. I want you to go call your girlfriend right now (lol just work with here.) I want you to find her, and explain how these people hurt you. Okay? No girlfriend?: Tell your boss at work. No job? Tell the mail man or mail lady.

[vTuro24]

Oh hey, a dumbass corpo shill making personal attacks instead bringing forth literally anything of value. Is this the part where I'm supposed to make a surprised pikachu face? How about you go outside and touch some grass for a change, you waste of oxygen?

[senorfartcushion]

Isn't them making a game literally shoving a world in people's faces?

It's an inch of fabric around the thighs. Go and find some real thighs you freak haha 🤣

[vTuro24]

Aaand another one. This place really is Playstation HQ, huh?

[VariantAEC]

@vTuro24
So why did Sony not force them to nix or alter the bikini outfit that covers next to nothing of Eve which still exists after the patch?

Any answer for that? None at all... imagine my shock.

[Eonjay]

Right because I'm calling you out for crying about nothing that makes me a shill and you a victim? There are actual real issues in the real world and this isn't want of them. And you know it.

[vTuro24]

You can disagree with someone without going full dickhead mode. The fact that there are bigger issues in the world does not mean that we couldn't or shouldn't look at smaller issues. Both can be looked at at the same time. This is some terrible logic.

[TwoPicklesGood]

Dear lord

[PapaBop]

*facepalm*

I hate censorship in all forms but everything about this is just so needless and wrong. Wrong that they felt it needed censoring, wrong the creator had the audacity to lie about it and wrong that gamers are so up in arms about it that they feel it necessary to get a refund. A great action game that deserves to be praised getting dragged under the mud due to the pettiness of all parties.

[Hugodastrevas]

People are getting a refund to buy instead the uncensored physical version (as long as you don't update).

[Eonjay]

Its a massive troll. Clearly there is no universe where anyone would thing that costume needed to be censored but yet the other outfits...well lets just say they blow this out the park. Either the designer really hated the look and wanted to change it or they changed it just to mess with the snowflakes and show how unreasonable they could be. The lady is practically naked in some of these. 'But this is such a big issue! They censored my feelings! 😂 '

[Hugodastrevas]

Good, then people can buy the uncensored disc version (don't accept the day 1 patch!) and play the game as intended.

[JL2930]

No new game+ without the patch.

[Hugodastrevas]

Yes, it's a choice. That Digital version people do not have.

[anast]

Get your money back

[Dirtnapstor]

Double WOW. Absolutely ridiculous. Has nothing to do with the game itself. Yes, Eve was stunning, but you guys realize she's not real, right? Those clamoring for a refund are a bunch of adolescent perverts.

[ocelot07]

I have no interest in this game. Played the demo and it's simply not for me.

Here is my two pence. I think it's a massive worry that you can pre order a game because you like what was promised. You pay the money they happily take the money. Then just as the game is about to release they are like Okey that thing you like that was advertised yer we going to patch it out the game.

Yes right now it's just a change of a costume. But what next? Next week's update they patch out a boss fight out the game? They change the ending of the game because Karen who doesn't even play video games seen it on YouTube and didn't like it and demanded it changed?

Rockstar has showed off GTA6. Looks like there is going to be two playable characters. Imagine if over the next year they advertise that you can play as these two characters. Then once the game is released they patch out the male character and you can no only play as the female. That's false advertising that's scummy practice. Yes what's happened with Stella blade is not that drastic to that scenario I just mentioned with GTA6. But it people keep allowing this to happen. In future stuff like I just mentioned with GTA 6 could happen.

[Eonjay]

Its a skin. Its not the character, she is still hot. They other skins are EVEN hotter. There is even an effing full furry costume if you want to go full degen. You gotta know when to pick your battles. These people are some of the biggest virgins I have ever meet. More bitchy than the worst girls. More dramatic than a drag queens.

[DOMination-]

I'd say your example, although well-meant is not really fair nor comparable (imo).

If Rockstar pulled a bait and switch on that level on a gameplay/mechanical feature, I feel like it would be quite different to what I'm understanding here is just an aesthetic costume.

GTA is the biggest IP in all of media with thousands of people working on it, they'd never get away with something like that.

I get why some people are making a stand on censorship or false advertising and that this could be the start of something bigger - and I respect those views but I can't help thinking the reaction to this has been a bit over-dramatic. But the beauty is, those people can now get their money back and make a point so it's a win for everyone.

[Traecy]

Not even even comparable. It's just a small cosmetic change to an outfit which is the last thing anyone should be worrying about. Overall the game is a blast to play with top notch gameplay, graphics & an amazing music score. Gameplay is king & important not some change in a skimpy outfit. Some raging about this needs to get out more, get a girlfriend or buy one.

[Gameseeker_Frampt]

@ocelot07

I think you must be pretty new to gaming if 4" of lace added to a game makes you think we are on a slippery slope where games can change from what you preorder to what you get. This has been happening for decades. Cyberpunk 2077, Starfield, The Last of Us Part 2, Bioshock Infinite, Watchdogs, The Division, No Man's Sky, Killzone 2, Aliens: Colonial Marines, and Fable just to name a few.

Concerned about games being changed post launch? That is also happening. Destiny 2, Forspoken, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Sports Story are some of the current games to receive downgrades post-launch. Many other games have completely changed from what the developers originally wanted to now include changes that fans demanded.

I find a good way to deal with these facts is to actually read and pay attention to the disclaimer on trailers that state that this is alpha footage and subject to change. It also helps to not preorder video games, because only fools buy something before seeing the finished product and then complain about it after purchase.

[VariantAEC]

You: "Yes right now it's just a change of a costume. But what next? Next week's update they patch out a boss fight out the game? They change the ending of the game because Karen who doesn't even play video games seen it on YouTube and didn't like it and demanded it changed?"

Also you from earlier in the same reply: "I have no interest in this game. Played the demo and it's simply not for me."

Your opinion is completely valueless and of course you blew everything out of proportion for a single outfit change. Any other changes you upset about? Not the graffiti or toned down gore? Weird.

As someone who plays, this doesn't offend me in the slightest and for those who want the eye-candy... there's so much more that wasn't 'censored' further emphasizing that this was a real mountain from a mole-hill issue.

[Levii_92]

You see what you have become Sony, just the worst pathetic company. God i hate them. I am glad people are sending the message but i feel soooo bad for Shift Up man, they didn't deserve this and the rest of the stupid controversies they got and i bet they regret working with Sony.

[P_Bomb]

“You see what you have become Sony, just the worst pathetic company. God i hate them…”

Some of you take this hobby way too seriously.

[Levii_92]

Lol that PLAY HAS NO LIMITS slogan at the bottom of the message from Playstation Support about the refunds is sooo funny and ironic. Well looks like there are limits to your Play Sony, in fact you are the most goddamn limited company out there.

[Abear21]

We are actually giving more power to gaming websites and gaming journalists the more consumers hold devs responsible for marketing.

Gaming marketing is in the toilet and this is why, having to give full refunds is a killer to the bottom line, now watch as more games lack advertising and we, as the consumers, have painted devs in a corner where they feel they can’t hype their products. Enter the clickbait hungry game review sites that will be more important than ever to inform us if the games are actually good or bug ridden.

All that’s fine as long as the gaming sites are reputable and not bias. You see where this starts to get murky now.

[Redemption-64]

These people are far gone. None of these guys care about censorship. The guy who started all of this not too long ago was trying to get Spider-Man 2 censored because of 🏳️‍🌈 flag, he was also laughing at EA and calling them jealous because Dead Space was censored and banned in Japan. Care to guess what all these anti censorship people did when TLOU part 2 git censored in Japan? Nothing. All this crying over 6 inches of lace.

[Dandizzle]

Plenty of her outfits are skimpy enough. The outfit in question isn't even one of her better outfits. What's the big deal?
I think the game is fun, and she has a bunch of outfits.

[Eonjay]

It's really people trying to inject the politics they OD on into gaming.

[Huey_My_D_Long]

Get yall money back losers, but changing one costume while leaving more lewd, naked costumes make yall censorship claims pretty dumb.
Call me when all the costumes get changed, not some false outrage over 1 fucking skin being changed to the final design designated by the team

[DefiledViper]

Wow! Give away money and take bad press out of what should be a 100% W instead of roll back the patch 😂. Unbelievable.

[Elda]

If those were the folks complaining then now they can move on...buy & play something else. On another note I immensely enjoyed playing Stellar Blade over the entire weekend.

[Christopher]

Please. They'll complain about this for years to come. They've already blamed some imaginary group of people who wanted this one lewd element changed apparently but none of the plethora of other lewd elements (meaning, this was an internal decision, not a complaint), so they've set themselves up to blame imaginary people for their inability to see cleavage on this one outfit versus all the others.

[VariantAEC]

100%

[Armyofdarkness]

Refunds! That is hilarious!

[KwietStorm_BLM]

This is all starting to feel like people bought the game just to be pervs instead of being interested in the game itself, regardless of what's been changed or not.

[Makroyale]

I can't believe they'd rather issue refunds than just give us what we want...

[Eonjay]

Clearly they wanted yo make a change for their own reason and they aren't gonna let you bully them into changing it. If they caved, there wouldn't be any creative direction only a reaction to the whim of everyone who wants something.

[Flakegriffin]

This is such a weird thing to make so controversial. What’s even weirder is how most of the people upset are grown men.

Get a life and find a real reason to be upset.

[-Gespenst-]

Dudes will do stuff like this instead of just finding a girlfriend.

[Traecy]

LOL! Exactly.

[Lionsguard]

I'll just wait for the inevitable superior PC version that I can mod however I want it.

[purple101]

Trying to find a silver lining in this, they’re telling people to not install update, and play Ver1.0

So you’re telling me, they released a game, playable from start to finish, all on disk from day1,

This is the way it’s done. Aplause☝️

[Aphrodia]

Did not see this coming. Looks like Sony still has a shred of integrity and some respect for it's consumers. I'm glad they did this. Ashamedly i was one of the ones that thought sony did not need competition should they ever be the only relevant console in their space but nope i was wrong because they can to use their powerful position to get away with some real anti consumer moves.

[Pyrofire95]

On one hand the constume change wasn't HUGE. (though percentage wise maybe it was) On the other: Yeah, don't freaking say one thing and then flip flop by using a patch. That's rubbish and I hope this shows that even if it's small it's not okay to do that.

[derek]

Is this really a thing with some gamers? Wasn't aware people were demanding refunds for "censorship ", lol. Seems like another nontroversy.

[MrBeatdown]

Glad Gamers™ will be able to get their money back and get their titty fix from a company more deserving of their parents' hard earned money.

[Bronbron92]

Lol ridiculous that’s a reason people are refunding a game but hey people are stupid to the littlest detail, the game is great bring that sequel!!!

[Demetrius]

So they're mad all cause it's censored a bit? Lmao just go to Google and look at pics it ain that serious yo it's a VIRTUAL character, lusting over a fictional character is beyond ridiculous specially if u a grown a** man🤣 😂

[raWfodog]

I think I'm probably one of the very few people who wasn't paying attention to Eve's outfit at all during the demo and was just trying to get the dodge and parry timing right LOL. To each, their own...

[DafunkyRebel]

Instead of judging the game on gameplay and merit they get offended over a design decision that wasn't even censorship but was meant to enhance the outfit appeal. Reflect on your failings people. Please be better