Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer SHIFT UP have released a new trailer for Stellar Blade featuring the game’s Japanese voice-over track.
While this sci-fi third-person hack & slash action game is very "Devil May Cry," it's the mechanics cribbed from other game that make it more modern and compelling.
Stellar Blade's balance of challenge is perfect, but it keeps tripping itself up.
There’s no difficulty code to crack.
Dark Souls is the game it is and difficulty it wants to be. Stellar is the game it is and the difficulty it wants to be with options.
It’s like saying Devil May Cry cracked the Ninja Gaiden difficulty code.
I don’t know, it definitely has souls elements but I don’t even know as I’d call it a souls like. It’s challenging occasionally but nowhere near souls level. I think some of the souls stuff has become almost the standard at this point. I don’t think having campsites and respawning enemies is enough to call something a souls like. Personally.
PlayStation will refund digital copies of Shift Up's latest action adventure game, Stellar Blade, over the claim of false advertisement.
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.
@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.
Was there any evidence that Sony censored the product as opposed to Shift Up? I thought the director said it was his decision.
@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?
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.
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
@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.
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
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.
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.
@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
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!
Yeah, that would show them. Am going to cancel and not buy your game, then buy it again. Sony will surely learn their lesson
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
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.
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?
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.
@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?
@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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
@Eonjay did people on Twitter or YouTube sell a product and delivered another? No, that was Sony.
So, yeah, nice try.
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.
@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.
*** 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.
@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.
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.
@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.
*** 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.
@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.
Replies(1)Its censorship dude. If you are for it just say it. I am against it but I do think the adjusted costumes look better.
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
@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.
But they changed a core feature!!!
Nah I agree with ya. Some People love crying victim,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I’m not gonna lie, this game looks awesome and I love how it’s a big middle fingering to the industry and social climate. I truly hope this does well.