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.

[Knightofelemia]

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.

[fsfsxii]

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

[Hypertension140]

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.

[Barlos]

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.

[anast]

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

[anast]

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

This is frightening actually.

[RNTody]

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.

[Knightofelemia]

@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.

[vTuro24]

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.

[NotoriousWhiz]

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.

[shinoff2183]

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

[RNTody]

@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.

[Barlos]

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!

[CrimsonWing69]

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.

[Barlos]

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.

[Hugodastrevas]

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

[Chocoburger]

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! 🙄

[CrimsonWing69]

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.

[rippermcrip]

Gamers are the biggest cry babies of all.

[Huey_My_D_Long]

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.

[Hugodastrevas]

@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?

[VariantAEC]

@Hugodastrevas
Because: "- 데이원 패치를 통해 검열 이슈가 된 의상이 있다. 의도한 사항인가?

김형태 대표: 데이원 패치 이후가 최종 결과물이다. 최종적으로 유저들에게 전달하기 위해 조절한 결과물이 데이원 패치, 혹은 그 직전에 들어가 있다. 의상도 무조건 야하다고 좋은 것은 아니라고 생각하기도 하고 퀄리티를 위해 수정한 부분이다. 그로 인해 에로티시즘이 덜어지거나 강조되는 부분도 있다. 의도된 결과로 보여주고 싶은 최종 프로덕트이다." - Game About

En: - There is a costume that has become a censorship issue through the Day One patch. Is it intended?

CEO Kim Hyung-tae: After the Day One patch, the final result is. The result meant to be delivered to users is included in the Dayone patch. I think that it's not good to be sexy unconditionally, and it's a revised part for quality. As a result, eroticism is also reduced or emphasized. It is the final product that I want to show with the intended result.

This is the intended design, not censorship. This is part of Korean culture and you all say you respect the artists but that only stretches as far as your erections can take it, which isn't very far... obviously.

[S2Killinit]

No censorship whatsoever. Ever. Never.

And this is from a longtime Sony/PlayStation fan.

[MrDead]

An interview from the devs posted in this comment page saying the costume are how they want them still isn't enough for the incel crowd. Its censorship but the forgot to censor the rude stuff.

Get a refund and hug your anime body pillows, your outrage will soon be directed at something new.

[Hugodastrevas]

Do you know what a non-disparagement clause is?
Devs promised no censorship, released an uncensored version and then patched censorship in, nothing in this was organic or how they wanted, they just can't say otherwise.

[MrDead]

Do you know what what fiction is?

I wonder why they didn't censor the more revealing outfits or NPC's?.. almost like this entire thing was rage bait for sensitive types and the easily led. The people that made the game are lying but the outrage sites are the only ones telling the truth with their connections from the world of fantasy.

[Hugodastrevas]

@MrDead "Do you know what what fiction is?" *Proceeds to write fiction*

[Babadook7]

What does the article explain here exactly? Just looking for clicks.

[Asterphoenix]

Its the bias what people don't like and it's clear. Every creator should be allowed on make what they want to create no matter what country it was made longs its ok with age ratings. Last of Us 2 Abby woman built like a man having sex is ok, having sex with a bear is ok in Baldur's Gate 3 and censoring a couple of outfits in Stellar Blade is ridiculous these are all R18 rated games.

[VariantAEC]

From Game About:
Kr: "- 앞서 창작의 자유에 대해 언급했는데, 그에 따라 이번 작품에서 표현하지 못했거나 그려내지 못한 것이 있나?

김형태 대표: 창작의 굴레가 최소화되는 것이 굉장히 중요하다고 생각했다. 어느 나라든 심의라는 것이 존재하는데, 심의로 철저하게 플레이할 수 있는 연령대를 구별하는 건 긍정적이라고 생각한다. 하지만 최근에는 성인 등급은 성인이 플레이하는 것을 전제로 해야 하는데 청소년 플레이를 전제로 심의하는 경향이 있다. 이런 부분에 대해서 제대로 적용되는 것이 중요한 것이지 내용은 어느 정도 스스로 리미트를 걸지 않도록 자유를 주는 게 좋지 않을까 생각했다."

En: - I mentioned freedom of creation earlier, so is there anything you haven't expressed or drawn in this work?

CEO Kim Hyung-tae: I thought it was very important to minimize the limits of creativity. There is deliberation in any country, and I think it is positive to distinguish the age group that can be play games. However, in recent years, adult ratings should be based on the premise that adults play, but adults tend to allow on children to play. It is important to apply this properly, and I thought it would be better to give freedom not to restrict content to some extent.

I've been active online on YT in saying that Korea isn't about this. Kim also said he wants more people to play the game. The game has an M-rating for non-sexual themes and loads of violence. ESRB's Stellar Blade rating description "M for Mature - Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence" Nothing about partial nudity even? How... expected.

Later in the interview...
Kr: "- 데이원 패치를 통해 검열 이슈가 된 의상이 있다. 의도한 사항인가?

김형태 대표: 데이원 패치 이후가 최종 결과물이다. 최종적으로 유저들에게 전달하기 위해 조절한 결과물이 데이원 패치, 혹은 그 직전에 들어가 있다. 의상도 무조건 야하다고 좋은 것은 아니라고 생각하기도 하고 퀄리티를 위해 수정한 부분이다. 그로 인해 에로티시즘이 덜어지거나 강조되는 부분도 있다. 의도된 결과로 보여주고 싶은 최종 프로덕트이다."

- There is a costume that has become a censorship issue through the Day One patch. Is it intended?

CEO Kim Hyung-tae: After the Day One patch, the final result is. The result meant to be delivered to users is included in the Dayone patch. I think that it's not good to be sexy unconditionally, and it's a revised part for quality. As a result, eroticism is also reduced or emphasized. It is the final product that I want to show with the intended result.

Dev said this was the intended result, meaning it is not censorship. As I've been saying on YT, Korea is more conservative and that should be ok... Clearly it's not.

[gleepot]

Complaining about censorship is pretty silly.

[qalpha]

bot, just ignore

[Skuletor]

Don't really care about the suits but what's up with them toning down the blood and gore?
That's often getting overlooked, with people more focusing on a few costume changes and the ridiculous "hard r" outrage, propagated by the usual suspects in the gaming media.

[VariantAEC]

In the interview from Game About, which was carried out in Korean the interviewer asks about the Naytiba (네이티브로) which actually means "native" and asked about potential confusion with parallels to American Indians for us specifically in the U.S. Western media didn't catch that at all.

[Skuletor]

Lol, yet another example of journalists trying to make things about American politics.

[VariantAEC]

True but this time the journalist is indeed Korean Kim Soo-min.