The anticipation for Shift Up’s upcoming game Stellar Blade is at an all-time high as the game is all set to be released for the PlayStation 5 on April 26, 2024. Published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the game has been making waves in the gaming world not only because of its action-packed gameplay but also because of the game’s protagonist, Eve.
Shift Up is being criticized for the objectification of its female protagonist, Eve. Many gamers believe that the entire focus is just on the s*xualization of the character instead of the game. Some gamers have pointed out that Eve’s outfits were intentionally designed to be odd as the developers wanted to churn out money by making the character appealing to the male audience.
Unfortunately, this plan may have backfired for Shift Up as this n*dity has led to the game receiving an adults-only rating in their home country, Korea.
Stellar Blade has received an adults-only rating in Korea
PushSquare has reported that Shift Up’s upcoming game, Stellar Blade, has received an adults-only rating in Korea, where Shift Up has set up its headquarters. The reason behind the rating is the n*dity and extreme violence depicted in the game. This adds another problem to Sony’s list of woes as Stellar Blade has been in the headlines for the objectification of its female protagonist, Eve.
The Soulslike game features a female lead, Eve, and her squad, Airborne Squad 7. Many people on social media have pointed out that Eve’s objectification in the game is very apparent and reveals Shift Up’s true intentions. Stellar Blade pays homage to many popular Japanese video games with female protagonists like NieR: Automata and Bayonetta, but Eve’s portrayal has left the fanbase divided.
Will Stellar Blade receive a similar rating in the USA?
Now the question arises, how will the rest of the countries tackle this situation? As for the USA, many believe they would also follow in Korea’s footsteps and the game would receive a similar adults-only rating from PEGI and ESRB. The adults-only rating is a massive setback for Sony and Shift Up as this rating shrinks Stellar Blade‘s gamer base.
Fortunately, Stellar Blade‘s demo has been well-received by the fans. The demo, which was dropped on March 29, 2024, for PlayStation 5 users, is about 1 hour – 1.5 hours long and has successfully met the expectations of many gamers. The full game is scheduled to be released for the PlayStation 5 on April 26, 2024.
