Some players of Stellar Blade are requesting refunds after discovering that a few of Eve’s outfits were modified before the game’s release. These changes, which appeared in a day one patch, have led to accusations of censorship. The altered outfits were not included in pre-release copies and are only available in the physical release of the game, prompting some players to call for a boycott of Stellar Blade. A group of fans has accused developer Shift Up and publisher Sony of censoring the game, claiming that the changes to Eve’s outfits amount to censorship.
The alterations, particularly the addition of black lacing and black stockings to certain outfits, were not present in the pre-release copies received by reviewers and content creators, making the reason for the changes unclear. Stellar Blade director Hyung-Tae Kim has responded to the censorship claims, stating that the day-one update does not censor the game and that the altered outfits represent the final product. However, this explanation has only satisfied some in the community, leading others to become more frustrated. Some have even called for a boycott of PlayStation Plus, placing blame on Sony for the apparent censorship.
It is not uncommon for cut content to be included in physical releases of games but not in digital versions. For example, Cyberpunk 2077 includes cut content when installed from a PS4 or Xbox One disc in offline mode. This situation aligns with the changes in Stellar Blade, as the outfits discovered on day one were not present in pre-release digital copies. Neither Shift Up nor Sony has responded to the backlash, and the impact of the drama on Stellar Blade’s performance is unknown at this time.
Despite the controversy, the game has received positive reviews, with an 82 on Metacritic and a user score of 8.9.
