Hello again Gamers! A few days ago developer Shift UP released a new update for the fantastic Stellar Blade which added some new quality of life features. This update featured the new Boss Challenge mode and introduced some new nano suits. It’s an awesome update and it appears to be a sign of good will from Shift Up to the fans. Here is my quick breakdown:

Complaints Regarding Censorship

When Stellar Blade launched back in April there was a lot of noise surrounding the game, most especially regarding the censorship controversy. Very briefly the games’ director publicly stated that there would be no censorship whatsoever for the global launch of the game, however, there was a Day 1 patch release which censored some blood effects in the game and 2 particular nano suits. Players and fans were rightfully upset and took to creating petitions and cancelling their PlayStation Plus subscriptions in a boycott against Sony for their betrayal. Their main argument is that the game was already rated M for mature audiences and therefore the game never needed any censorship to begin with. I agreed with this position one hundred percent because as a gamer for over 30 years, I know there is never any need to censor any artistic vision or stylized action in a video game. Most especially because they are already rated by the ESRB. The developers should be free to create the kind of content they wish to make for their target audience.

However, It seems once again that games journalism websites are angry about the update as it looks to please the fans by bringing in some new outfits for Eve that are variations of the original censored suits – only this time they’re uncensored for everyone. This negative reaction is completely pathetic across the board as the whole point of video games and DLC is to give the players / consumers what they want. This love for the content is what drives the industry and gives many websites the opportunity to have a job in the first place, so its odd to see articles feature complaints about a game’s success, even if they personally don’t like the game.

The Controversial Suits

The two main suits in question were the holiday rabbit suit and the bondage suit. The updated variations are part of the new Midsummer Collection and are named Midsummer Redhood (holiday rabbit variant) and Midsummer Alice (bondage suit variant). Both of the suits are fantastic additions and they feel like a thank you note to the fans for continuing to support the game despite the initial negative reactions. While Shift Up still hasn’t corrected the original suits yet, it seems they still wish to please their fans despite the forced censorship, which now feels like it has been imposed on Shift Up from Sony. The reality is that no one is going to admit who pushed for that initial update, but at least Shift Up is aware of the situation and is looking to make things right with the fans for their interest and dedication for supporting the game. This is what creates fan loyalty and trust with a developer going forward, and it’s what we need more of in the gaming industry right now.

The Boss Challenge Mode And Additional Suits

As well as the two censorship free suits, Shift Up also included 3 other Nano suits as well as the Boss Challenge mode. This mode is pretty straight forward and pits the player against each of the bosses in the game. One of the new suits is an unlockable reward for completing the challenge of beating all bosses. The mode features 3 difficulty settings: Story, Normal, and Hard, and includes the option of using the base version of Eve without her extra abilities, gear, or suits for an added challenge. You can also select the maximum spec version of Eve which has all of her unlockable abilities and makes the harder difficulties more manageable. The new suit reward is called the Neurolink Suit and features a cool red and white color scheme and some cybernetic styled legs. Finally, the last suits are the Black and White Kunoichi suits. These are additional bonus suits and they give Eve a futuristic lady ninja look.

Final Thoughts

This latest update for Stellar Blade was a complete win for everyone in my opinion. The developer is acknowledging the disappointment from its fans and has provided a sort of happy alternative to the content in question. Honestly its just good to see a developer who wants to do right by their fan base and give them what they care about, even it’s as small as uncensored costume DLC. Shift Up is awesome for doing this and I hope they continue to support Stellar Blade, all its upcoming collaborations, and future sequels. Sony just needs to get out of Shift Up’s way and let them make their game and their way. Its just shocking to see that a first time triple A developer from outside the US understands how to respect and value their fan base more than our own developers and publishers here in the US. Shift Up will be respected and remembered for their efforts here and people appreciate this kind of connection with them. I look forward to seeing what other cool games and content the develop in the future.

As always readers, if you made it the end here thank you so very much for your time and support. Sadly, I don’t make any profit from my site here so it means a lot to see that some of you are still reading my content. Its just me and my opinions about this industry and how I wish to see it return to a much more positive position than it was. Again thank you so much for your support, and I hope you are enjoying Stellar Blade as much as I have. Enjoy the photos and have a great day!