Stellar Blade is a new ambitious title for South Korean developers Shift Up and early reactions are indicating the game could be another winner for Sony Interactive Entertainment. PlayStation exclusives have been the gold standard for gaming for years and the company is now ready to share what they have with competitors.
However, the newest exclusive could pose a problem if it were ever ported to Xbox. The game features heavy PlayStation signatures that would be very awkward to see on a rival console.
Stellar Blade Can Be a Tricky Port for Xbox
PlayStation had a sudden shift in attitude towards sharing first-party titles with other platforms like PC, with Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut being the latest one. All eyes are set on the new exclusive that will be released shortly and the community is already waiting for the ambitious title to be ported. Unfortunately, it could take quite a while especially when the game features heavy references to PlayStation and Xbox can’t have that.
Stellar Blade has a puzzle featuring the iconic #PlayStation symbols
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Could Eve grow to become a new PlayStation icon alongside Kratos, Nathan Drake, Joel, Ellie and Astrobot?😎 (Cheers for the footage @Dream_WaIker🙌🏼) #PS5 #Gaming pic.twitter.com/0b0P8kmEQy
— Rino (@RinoTheBouncer) April 24, 2024
Microsoft has started the initiative to abolish the idea of exclusivity permanently and shared several first-party party titles like Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush with competitors like Nintendo and Sony. Perhaps Xbox thought sharing games could earn some goodwill from the fierce rival and caved in to share one of theirs.
Sony has already made plans to ensure that the gaming community never forgets its contribution. They have included a puzzle featuring the iconic PlayStation buttons. If an Xbox port were to happen, it would be extremely awkward for them. This kind of level design is not uncommon but the symbols it features could suggest that this game will probably not leave the platform.
Stellar Blade Is off the Table for a Potential Xbox Port
It was a wise move for PlayStation to assert dominance and it wouldn’t be the first time Xbox lost access to a high profile video game. Fans were upset that Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was a timed exclusive for Sony and are unsatisfied with how Xbox is handling deals with third-party publishers and constantly fumbles.
The first batch of Xbox first-party titles will not be the last and earlier leaks have suggested that Starfield will be made available on the PlayStation 5 and gained nothing out of it. Microsoft is giving away its games to competitors and getting nothing in return is an odd business move.
It is possible that Xbox could secure the rights to Stellar Blade, but doing so would necessitate extensive revisions to eliminate any content that could be perceived as related to PlayStation. This would likely require a significant amount of effort and attention to detail to ensure that the final product is wholly original and free of any potential legal issues.
PlayStation believes the adage about sharing is caring, however, the company is still operating in a cut-throat business and needs the upper hand. It may seem passive-aggressive toward the rival gaming community but it is what it is and there is no definite answer as to whether or not Stellar Blade will make its way to other platforms soon, only time will tell.
Are you hoping to play Stellar Blade on Xbox? Let us know in the comments section below!
