300°

Stellar Blade demo numbers impress, but will the hype convert to paying players?

Daily active user numbers for the Stellar Blade demo have more than doubled those seen for the FFVII Rebirth demo, but a launch performance matching FFVII is perhaps a best-case scenario.

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ampereanalysis.com
FPSRUSSIA33d ago

Not Surprised the hype for this game is Crazy.

Cacabunga32d ago (Edited 32d ago )

Next gen cross over between Nier Bayonetta.. no one will say no to this ..

I hope it succeeds really good, it’ll prove that SP games and console exclusive will always be a major part of the console market..

Obscure_Observer32d ago

"Next gen cross over between Nier Bayonetta.. no one will say no to this .."

It´s not really next gen running on UE4

"I hope it succeeds really good, it’ll prove that SP games and console exclusive will always be a major part of the console market.."

It was supposed to be a multi-platform game. But Sony paid to keep both Xbox and PC gamers off from it.

ravens5232d ago (Edited 32d ago )

🤣🤣🤣 🤣🤣
"It's not really next gen running on UE4"
This is just a dumb statement. You Xbots are really gonna try and push this narrative huh? Need to cling on to something.

outsider162432d ago

"It was supposed to be a multi-platform game. But Sony paid to keep both Xbox and PC gamers off from it."

Where was this statement when Ms bought Bethesda and Activision?

MrBaskerville32d ago

Not really Bayonetta tbh. More like a cross between a Souls title and Nier. Expected it to be a bit more fast paced than it actually is. Is faster than souls, but still kinda slow ane methodical compared to a Bayonetta styled game.

MrDead32d ago

@obsure

From interview with Director Hyung-Tae Kim and Technical Director Dongi Lee "Initially intended to be a "small-scale" project, the game received a significant boost through the partnership with Sony. Sony provided them with "extensive support, including full localization, marketing, full QA testing, and tool sharing from other Sony studios."

Evil Sony invested in a studio and made their games scope bigger, how dare they support an independent studio!

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 32d ago
MrDead32d ago (Edited 32d ago )

The game is hyped and from what I've seen is very good, but I'm not surprised as it's free.

I think I'll have some time to wait before it comes to PC and I get to play, but congrats to the devs on what looks to be a Stellar game.

Obscure_Observer32d ago

"I think I'll have some time to wait before it comes to PC and I get to play, but congrats to the devs on what looks to be a Stellar game."

No complaints on how Sony literally stole Stellar Blade from both PC and Xbox gamers, hu? No outage, no meltdowns, no inflammatory speeches, no smear campaigns.. nothing! Why I´m not surprised?

You can drop your act now. The last thing you care for is a healthy industry and fair competition.

It´s OK to keep gamers from getting access to third party games since Sony is the company doing.

ravens5232d ago

Maybe Sony should buy them, thatd be better right? Itd make it a non-issue huh?

MrDead32d ago

What's wrong little man, didn't you like my "Stella" joke

I love how you still think a game is the same as a Publisher. This is an independent studio, they choose who they work with and what's best for them. You are too blinded by fanboy rhetoric to see that spending $80 billion on purchasing multiple publishers and consolidating huge parts of the industry is very different from a single game.

Go try your gaslighting on someone else.

VersusDMC32d ago

All xbox has is bought 3rd party games. Mostly Bethesda games last year. Obsidian, Ninja theory and Bethesda this year.

But keep comparing making one game from a studio exclusive (Shift ups next game is multiplatform) to buying whole publishers where all their games are exclusive...

ironmonkey32d ago

Awww a mix of emotions, it's ok you'll figure it out one day.

Elda32d ago (Edited 32d ago )

You sound just like a broken record especially when you love writing & repeating what people have already written in their comments. LOL! Smh. Sony & Shift Up made a mutual deal together, just like MS/XB likes to make deals with other developers for exclusivity. Just buy a PS5 & get over it.

Ironmike32d ago (Edited 32d ago )

Because this toxic site dome good ppl here but there's some pure bellend on here here who just won't hear a word against sony as if sony gives a shit about them

Obscure_Observer32d ago

@MrDead

"I love how you still think a game is the same as a Publisher. This is an independent studio, they choose who they work with and what's best for them."

No more than I love your cynicism and double standards when you pretend that´s "just one game" when comes to Sony money-hatting to keep games from other platforms.

Rise of Ronin
FFXVI
FF Remake
FF Rebirth
Stellar Blade
Silent Hill 2
KOTOR
Forspoken

Those are just a few from the top of my head only on PS5. That´s far more games than Bethesda will be able to deliver for the whole generation and you know it. But go ahead and continue with your double standards and acting like Sony is the victim in all this.

@ravens52

"Maybe Sony should buy them, thatd be better right? Itd make it a non-issue huh?"

Absolutely. At least Sony would be paying for something they own, rather than "steal" from others.

Go ahead and look for me crying and cursing Sony over Insomniac or Bungie´s acquisition, or any other acquisition of studios made by them. You won´t find me.

@Elda

"LOL! Smh. Sony & Shift Up made a mutual deal together, just like MS/XB likes to make deals with other developers for exclusivity. Just buy a PS5 & get over it."

Lol

You don´t get it, do you? I was just calling my guy MrDead on his double standards. If I wanted Stellar Blade this bad, I would have a PS5 already.

Unlike some of you regarding Xbox exclusive games, I´m not rooting for that game to fail and flop just because it´s not on Xbox.

Have a great time with Stellar Blade and I hope you enjoy the heck of it. ;)

MrDead32d ago (Edited 32d ago )

@Obscure

Wow, sweating hard are we?

You seem to be upset with decisions made independently with Sony but defend MS's takeovers, you know the ones where MS spent $80 billion on publishers leading said publishers no choice on who to work with.

Third party is a choice not the same as spending $80 billion on removing that choice and industry consolidation. Hope that clears things up for you kid.

And please tell me why this a bad thing: From interview with Director Hyung-Tae Kim and Technical Director Dongi Lee "Initially intended to be a "small-scale" project, the game received a significant boost through the partnership with Sony. Sony provided them with "extensive support, including full localization, marketing, full QA testing, and tool sharing from other Sony studios."

I'll wait for your answer

Crows9032d ago

I'm sorry but YOU have a complaint?

Pick a stance damnit...either you have a problem with it and denounce MS for doing it...or you don't have a problem with it and apologize for pretending that you'd care that someone else doesn't have a problem with it.

Einhander197232d ago (Edited 32d ago )

Have you ever considered that the real reason Sony has those games is because they can promise sales.

Multiplatform games are selling 80+% of their copies on PlayStation, which is why developers are questioning putting their games on the xbox platform at all.

Xbox is barely even relevant, that's why it's xbox that is throwing away the most money. They are paying to get games that PlayStation got exclusively for free, like Persona and Yakuza and Final Fantasy XIV and so many others.

Obscure_Observer32d ago (Edited 32d ago )

@MrDead

"Third party is a choice not the same as spending $80 billion on removing that choice and industry consolidation. Hope that clears things up for you kid."

What the hell are you talking about?

First: To be acquired for $8 cents or $80 Billion is also a *CHOICE*, genius. It doesn´t matter if you like or not!

Second: Nor ABK or Bethesda were acquired with a gun pointed at their faces, so just quit with your lying narrative and childsh fake drama.

"And please tell me why this a bad thing: From interview with Director Hyung-Tae Kim and Technical Director Dongi Lee "Initially intended to be a "small-scale" project, the game received a significant boost through the partnership with Sony. Sony provided them with "extensive support, including full localization, marketing, full QA testing, and tool sharing from other Sony studios."

I'll wait for your answer"

Oh I have you answer right here!

Be prepared though, given your double standards, I´m 100% positive that you ain´t gonna like it at all!

Pete Hines:

"First, let me say that we’re not making any landmark announcements or changes right now. As we’ve all shared, the expectation is that Bethesda Softworks and our studios will continue as we have in the past, just with more support and resources than we’ve ever had before."

"I’d also like to thank Phil Spencer and all the folks at Xbox and Microsoft who have been such a pleasure to work with as we prepare for this new chapter. The collaboration, mutual respect, and support they’ve shown to us during this process has been extraordinary. I’m pleased to continue the great relationships we’ve built together over the past few decades, first as partners and now as colleagues in the same company."

https://bethesda.net/en/art...

Phil Spencer:

"Truth be told, when the acquisition closed this game had a significantly earlier ship date than where we're actually launching in," Spencer stated, clarifying that he was referring to the November 2022 release date. Spencer added that he then "sat down with Todd and the team," and explained that they wanted to give this team "the time" to finish Starfield."

https://www.gamesradar.com/...

Starfield´s creator Todd Howard:

"When you're making something exclusive then the more you can focus," he told the BBC. "You know this is the hardware or the thing people are playing on, so the ability to focus on that always yields a better product. You do want people to be able to access it of course. But being with Xbox means there is an ease of access for us."

https://www.gamespot.com/ar...

You were saying?

"And please tell me why this a bad thing"

Help me out here. Show me some true character and give me some consistence here, my guy.

I'll wait for your answer

Traecy32d ago

Got to laugh at your hypocrisy. It's alright for XB to buy up established third party muliplatform publishers with gaming studios & keep some of their games off of existing platforms but when Sony gets second & third party exclusives your world comes crashing down & Sony is wrong. Pathetic.

MrDead32d ago (Edited 32d ago )

@Obscure

Wow, all that dribble and your still ignoring everything everyone's telling you.

"First: To be acquired for $8 cents or $80 Billion is also a *CHOICE*, genius. It doesn´t matter if you like or not!" Oops, someone doesn't know how the stock market works, ask your Mum or Dad.

Extremely simple answer, Bethesda no longer have a choice who to work with. Very different to this third party game, and the studio is still independent.

How's that for consistent?

Thank you very much and goodnight!... seriously though, you need to take a nap, you're very cranky.

Charlieboy33332d ago

Your observations are SERIOUSLY obscured

raWfodog31d ago (Edited 31d ago )

@Obscure

Where did you read that this game was coming to PC, XB? According to this article (link below), the game’s director says he always wanted it on a single platform:

“Stellar Blade's Game Director on why PlayStation 5 exclusive

"I felt that I wanted to release a high-quality game on a single platform," said Kim Hyung Tae, SHIFT UP CEO and Stellar Blade Director to Famitsu. "And so when it came to deciding on which platform, I determined PlayStation 5 would deliver the most optimal gameplay experience.”

Kim Hyung Tae went on to add that his history with gaming truly began with the release of the original PlayStation, and that it played a "large part in shaping my personal values about games".

https://esports.gg/news/gam...

Barlos31d ago

Wow, those grapes sure are sour eh?

Barlos31d ago (Edited 31d ago )

'It´s OK to keep gamers from getting access to third party games since Sony is the company doing.'

Funny that, because Microsoft spent the $80 billion to do exactly that. Wasn't Starfield supposed to be on PS5 too before MS bought Bethesda?

Anyway, I don't know what you're crying about, you'll soon have that epic 'masterpiece' Hellblade 2 to keep you occupied won't you? In all its next-gen UE5 30fps glory. All 8 hours of it.

Anyway, I'm off to play Rebirth for a bit. I know it's not next-gen because it's not UE5 but I'll do my best to try to enjoy it. Who knew that all a game needed to be next gen is to be on UE5. You learn something new every day...

+ Show (15) more repliesLast reply 31d ago
Obscure_Observer32d ago

"Oops, someone doesn't know how the stock market works, ask your Mum or Dad."

https://www.gameinformer.co...

You were saying?

"Extremely simple answer, Bethesda no longer have a choice who to work with. Very different to this third party game, and the studio is still independent."

Different, yes. Less damaging to gamers? In that regard there´s no difference at all. At least, of course, what you´re telling me now is that´s OK to money hat studios to make third party games which were coming to your platform anyway, to not be available to gamers on other platforms.

Which one is it? Consistence, my guy.

"Thank you very much and goodnight!... seriously though, you need to take a nap, you're very cranky."

Thank you, MrDead. It´s always entertaining to have a little back and forth with you.

And don´t worry. I´m not cranky. I had a good a time and even a few laughs at moments.

See you in Shattered Space. Good night!

MrDead32d ago

...a link to an article about CD project red and that's the answer, are you ok? The studios under the publishers MS purchased how much choice in the matter do you think they had before the buyout? Come on this is so simple.

"Different, yes. Less damaging to gamers? In that regard there´s no difference at all. At least, of course, what you´re telling me now is that´s OK to money hat studios to make third party games which were coming to your platform anyway, to not be available to gamers on other platforms."

Spending $80 billion buying up entire multiplatform publishers then removing their choice on what platforms they can publish on and consolidating a huge part of the industry (which means Activision and all its studios, Bethesda and all its studios and Xbox and all their studios are no longer competing) is no more damaging to gamers then supporting and funding an independent third party studios game so they can increase the scope of the title...!?!

Just no, I mean...!?! are you really stating that or am I dreaming?

Lightning7732d ago

Love to see it. People are craving new types of experiences. I'll be playin day one.

GoodGuy0932d ago

Still think it's insane Sony invested and has put much faith in the game with their stance on censorship lol.

shinoff218332d ago

Or maybe the censorship they've done has been kinda overblown.

Show all comments (80)
70°
10.0

Stellar Blade Review – Sony’s Sexiest Time Capsule | The Outerhaven

Shift Up's first console game, Stellar Blade, is finally here to play. While it's a PS5-exclusive game, it's also a great experience for those who enjoy these types of games.

Read Full Story >>
theouterhaven.net
Hugodastrevas3d ago

The more I play this game the more I want to keep playing, there's always something to unlock a place to explore a new monstrosity to fight.

3d ago
180°

The Stellar Blade Censorship Controversy Explained

With arguments about video game censorship raging across the internet, it’s time to look at what the Stellar Blade controversy is all about.

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gamerant.com
Knightofelemia4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

The game shouldn't be censored to begin with. And the "Western media of artists censoring their work to avoid offending audiences!" I am offended that the game I bought with my own money is censored. I honestly should have just waited for a PC version of the game at least then it wouldn't be censored for me.

fsfsxii3d ago

Just dont buy the game and save us the preaching. We dont need the weeaboos who are more concerned about pixelated censorship than their personal hygiene

Hypertension1403d ago (Edited 3d ago )

The main issue they have with this is that they ONLY seem to do it to asian games, or anything that looks like anime.

You're telling me that ripping people in half in Mortal Kombat is OK, but a 2D visual novel like doki doki literature club gets its blood censored? Even if their both rated M.

I personally don't care much, but I can see why people are upset.

Barlos3d ago

It's not just this though. It's a much wider issue. For example, look what Penguin have been doing to Roald Dahl's books. They employ 'sensitivity writers' - whatever the hell they are - to rewrite parts of his work. How dare they change the author's work, in order to satisfy DEI nonsense! If people don't like it, they don't have to read it!

It's happening everywhere. We're getting to the point where we're no longer allowed to make our own decisions as to what we can and cannot watch, play, listen to. Someone else is making those decisions for us and it shouldn't be happening.

anast3d ago

Worrying about strangers' bathing habits isn't the most bizarre fetish, but it's certainly a strange one.

anast3d ago

"For example, look what Penguin have been doing to Roald Dahl's books. They employ 'sensitivity writers'"

This is frightening actually.

RNTody3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Dude, fsfsxii, you need to stop the strawman arguments. You don't have to agree, but don't argue like a degenerate. This is "because Dante's hair isn't white" all over again, when fans were upset at DmC: Devil May Cry and the direction it took and all defenders could say was gamers were being whiners because the developers changed the heroes hair colour.

The people that are upset as I've understood it are acutely aware that there are other more revealing outfits in the game. They are upset at A) the principle of being promised an uncensored version of a game only for that to be changed AFTER purchase and B) having to deal with this nonsense in games rated M.

Now, if Stellar Blade had announced PRIOR to release that they were not satisfied with a few of the outfits and were making cosmetic changes, I guarantee you no one would be bothered. If the developers had added in alternate variants of the same suits or a censorship toggle in the options menu, people would be happy. It's an argument of principle.

Secondly, turn on the TV and watch any R or mature movie or series and they are rampant with sex, drugs, violence, rape and all other things that Hollywood is allowed to do. But gamers have to be compared to basement dwellers because they want M rated games to be left alone. We can shoot kids in Red Dead Redemption and watch bodies decompose, but no boobies. Explain this, please?

Did you enjoy it when BioWare lied to you before Mass Effect 3 came out and told you that the game had so many endings you wouldn't be able to count them, and it would not be an A, B or C scenario, only for it to end up exactly that way? Regardless of who it is, or how much we like the studio, why should any self respecting person accept being lied to before making a purchase?

Now I loved the demo of Stellar Blade and I plan to play the full game this year. If you disagree with this topic, attack the argument without strawmanning the situation.

Knightofelemia3d ago

@fsfsxii

I like anime but I am not a weeb. As an adult I hate it when people censor shit for me. I can understand if you're one of those woke people who get offended by a game for how a character looks. But the rest of us hate your woke crap and woke messages. I honestly don't care what EVE wears but censoring the game for me is where I draw the line and it's because of your woke culture the world it what it is now.

vTuro242d ago

Don't you just love it how every time someone disagrees with an anti-censorship post on this topic they go straight for personal insults? It's almost like you people can't form a single coherent argument for why censorship is ok. Why we shouldn't speak up against it. It's not about seeing pixel tits, it's about some shitty publisher not undermining artistic vision and dictating what we can or can not see.

NotoriousWhiz2d ago

Yall talk like this is all about "censorship" and "changing the game after purchase", but I also wonder how many of yall would be shouting the same thing if the costume started out less revealing and was later made more revealing.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 2d ago
shinoff21833d ago

It wasn't a western studio that made the game as far as I know

RNTody2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

@NotoriousWhiz What point do you imagine you made? The argument from those making it is about censorship and going against what is promised to purchasers, so why would anyone have a problem with what you're describing? A costume that started out less revealing and became more revealing violates neither the argument of censorship nor the argument of the developers promise to give people an uncensored game???

That said, nothing wrong with options and the game can easily have variant costumes or a censorship slider.

Barlos3d ago

Why should it be censored to begin with? It's a game aimed at adults. Therefore it shouldn't need censoring at all. I do wish media would stop trying to infantalise everyone. Let us make our own choices ffs!

CrimsonWing693d ago (Edited 3d ago )

That’s what weirds me out. It’s like if you went to an R-rated movie and they showed previews that it was a good ol’ classic 90’s flick with sex and violence, but then decided to shade over nude scenes like it was catered towards a different audience or insulting the viewers as if they’re not “mature” enough to view it. It’s just weird…but oh the gratuitous and graphic violence is A-OK.

The game is the game that it is. It’s specifically catered to people who enjoy sexy designs with over-the-top action. That’s it, nothing more. Just let it be.

Barlos3d ago

Exactly, and honestly compared to some games on Steam that are effectively porn, Stellar Blade is very tame. There was zero need to censor it, but of course there's ESG and DEI that companies have to comply with.

Hugodastrevas3d ago

Devs should just make it a toggle, those who are offended can censor their own game those who want it uncensored can leave it uncensored. They already have all assets so nothing goes to waste

Chocoburger3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Yes but this thought process makes too much sense in the modern era. Choice is bad! Follow what we say, that's all that matters! 🙄

CrimsonWing693d ago

It’s more like one side wants everything catered to them regardless of whether they want to consume it or not. Changing things like this no matter how little or big isn’t going to make that group buy it. It’s the fact that it exists that pisses them off and if it were up to them this game wouldn’t exist. Instead of a balance of games for them and games for another group it has to be only one sided. They scream for tolerance and acceptance yet they have no tolerance and acceptance for the other side. It’s ridiculous.

3d ago Replies(1)
rippermcrip3d ago

Gamers are the biggest cry babies of all.

Huey_My_D_Long3d ago

Honestly.
Them acting as if a new age phenomenon as if its not just not something that entertainment has always dealt with.
Don't like books being adapted for modern audiences? The practice dates back decades with publishers but lets pretend its a modern invention of the "Woke" phase.
People upset at Sony like Sony ever allowed AO games or just nudity in general on console. Last adult game they did allow for titilation had to be dropped because they had underage girls in it (The Guy Game)
You want uncensored games? Get a pc.

Hugodastrevas3d ago

@Huey_My_D_Long Witcher 3 has sex scenes, Cyberpunk 2077 let's you customize your genitals, Baldur's Gate 3 had zoophilia customizing genitals and genital physics, Last of Us 2 has sex scenes... What's the problem again with a woman wearing bathing suits? Why does it need to be censored?

Show all comments (39)
80°

Famitsu: Stellar Blade Debuts #1, Switch Sells Over 100k Units

It's a 2-for-1 on this week's chart, as the Golden Week holiday period takes Stellar Blade to the top spot, as well as some impressive Switch sales figures

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gameluster.com
ZeekQuattro5d ago

Hardware Sales (followed by lifetime sales)

Switch OLED Model – 72,592 (7,195,696)
PlayStation 5 – 43,033 (4,808,908)
Switch Lite – 16,247 (5,833,845)
Switch – 11,199 (19,786,390)
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – 6,501 (767,403)
Xbox Series X – 2,982 (271,121)
Xbox Series S – 2,353 (310,852)
PlayStation 4 – 202 (7,925,781)

Hugodastrevas4d ago

Stellar Blade selling well it's great, hopefully we get a sequel or s franchise out of it!

ravens524d ago

Just ordered my copy yesterday, gets here today. I still haven't beat FF7 Rebirth, but I want to play Stellar Blade lol. So I'll just play both 🤷🏽 and Helldivers 2 🇺🇸

Hugodastrevas4d ago

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Just finished fishing all the fish in the game to unlock an outfit lol.