Stellar Blade has been released for the PlayStation 5 and came out swinging with high scores for a brand new IP from developers who never developed any console games before this project. Director Hyung-Tae Kim is in awe of the well-reception and is collecting the flowers.
Shift Up has shown its tenacity when it comes to game development and the studio’s first attempt on console gaming was stellar, to say the least. Sony’s gamble on this mobile game developer has paid off and achieved accolades that weren’t even considered to be possible.
Stellar Blade’s Metacritic User Score Is a Major Win for Sony
PlayStation has had a long history with well-received first-party projects and the accolades were all spot-on. Shift Up has made countless mobile games, recently shifting its gears to instead focus on more ambitious console games, which was a bold move as a South Korean game developer. Sony gave the studio the support it needed and it has now paid off tenfold with the latest Metacritic user score.
Stellar Blade now has the highest Metacritic user score of any PS5 game to date with a 9.3.
It's also the highest user score of 2024 so far (all platforms).#StellarBlade #PS5 pic.twitter.com/HrTJCHpTwP
— Kami (@Okami13_) April 30, 2024
Ratings and scores define the quality of a project in the eyes of many and it would seem like Shift Up has passed with test with flying colors. It was already expected ever since the incredibly high daily active user count for the free demo and the developers had to politely ask the gaming community to dial it back to enjoy the full game on launch day.
User scores are a reflection of how others may have a similar experience while playing the video game, although this isn’t always the case which is why the majority of the gaming community have some reservations before purchasing. Yet, Kim has deviated from the traditional formula of game development that he and Shift Up have grown accustomed to and the efforts were met with universal praise from the majority of gaming audiences.
Hyung-Tae Kim’s Stellar Blade Is Shattering Review Scores
Sony values the quality of its games and banks on receiving high review scores across various gaming outlets because it delivers a message. Preserving the reputation is among the gaming company’s top priorities, which is on par with how well a game sells. Bend Studio was denied a Days Gone sequel because it was poorly reviewed despite a massive shift in opinion from the community years after it launched.
It wasn’t long ago that the South Korean director was caught in the middle of controversy when he spoke about his very provocative and daring character designs which were all intentional. Kim wanted to deliver an authentic gaming experience with a powerful female lead character that was not tethered to traditional norms. The designs were also a strong hook that was able to appeal to the general audience which is much needed for a new venture.
Sony gave Shift Up the proper support that a studio needs to grow and both parties have benefitted extensively from this partnership. Perhaps Hyung-Tae Kim has now gained the confidence to fully flesh out the lore of Stellar Blade and develop more sequels in the future and hopefully PlayStation will jump at the opportunity since the studio has earned its keep based on the high Metacritic user score.
What are your thoughts about Stellar Blade? Let us know in the comments section below!
