Stellar Blade is a new IP by South Korean developer Shift Up and published by Sony. Fans have been waiting for the game’s release, and the statistics of the demo have shown a great surge of interest.
Compared to other popular games like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, it’s clear that Shift Up has an edge that Square Enix doesn’t. The Soulslike component is a major selling point and a closer experience to the acclaimed Elden Ring.
The Demo of Stellar Blade Did Twice as Good as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Recent data has shown that the player count for the upcoming exclusive from Shift Up did better than expected compared to a well-established sequel on the PS5. Despite being a new IP and being compared to one of the biggest games of the year, Stellar Blade‘s demo is doing better than expected, and the developers have been politely asking fans to go easy on it to enjoy the full game.
The demo was accidentally published a month ago, and a good number of players were able to get their hands on the unofficial release before it was pulled out. The eagerness of the community is a positive indication that this game may do well even with tough competition.
Players have been calling out the gaming industry for the lack of new and creative franchises, and it seems like Shift Up heard the plea and delivered a satisfying game with Soulslike concepts that are comparable to Elden Ring. Perhaps it is the reason why the demo did incredibly well because of the similar combat.
Both Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Stellar Blade Are This Year’s PlayStation Champions
The lower daily active users for Rebirth doesn’t necessarily mean the game’s quality is awful or weak; there are a multitude of reasons why players refused to spend more time on its demo than others. Perhaps the community is biding its time and has decided to wait for the launch of the full game and experience it all in one playthrough.
Square Enix did an impressive job in reimagining a beloved classic title while doing something new and different that can cater to both legacy fans and those who are just getting started with the series, but it seems like players have seen enough and are more interested in trying something familiar with the Soulslike genre.
The success of Rebirth is enough for Square Enix to greenlight the third and final part of the remake trilogy, and the developers are already working on it. The gaming industry is now entering a phase where older titles can now take a backseat and players are much more welcoming of newer ideas.
Stellar Blade shares the strength of Elden Ring, which is the combat system. The futuristic and detailed look of the game is a bonus, but the core of the title is what matters. While the combat in Rebirth is great, it does not hold the candle compared to true Soulslike experiences.
Which demo have you spent hours on? Let us know in the comments section below!
