Stellar Blade Director Defends Uncensored Mods

The director of Stellar Blade has expressed he is not in favor of restricting adult mods. Continue reading to discover the developers' perspectives on the game's modding community and the studio's expansion plans for the title.

Stellar Blade Director Discusses Player Freedom and Future Updates

Enhancing Gameplay Through Mods

Following its release on Steam, Stellar Blade appears set to continue allowing mods, including those with mature content. Hyung-tae Kim, Director of Stellar Blade and CEO of ShiftUp, believes modding enhances the gameplay experience and broadens the game's scope. In a June 14 interview with the South Korean gaming news outlet This Is Game, Kim shared a positive outlook on modding, provided it is not misused. He cautioned, "However, some cases border on hacking or disrupt the game's normal operation. We ask players to be mindful of this."

Technical Director Dong-gi Lee also pointed out that certain mods could cause game malfunctions, advising fans to proceed with caution. He explained, "Mods are not reviewed or tested by our team. While users are free to enjoy the game with mods, if any issues arise, we recommend reverting to the original game state for testing."

Kim also addressed the subject of adult mods, stating that he prefers not to limit players' creative expression. He emphasized that since Stellar Blade is not rated for teenagers, there is no reason to ban such modifications. Kim encourages players to engage with creative culture and wants everyone who owns the game to participate in its community.

"It is the user's freedom. Once they own the game, how they choose to enjoy it is entirely up to them. Therefore, I do not plan to impose restrictions in this area. However, as mature members of society, I trust players will use common sense and avoid antisocial or sensitive content," he elaborated.

Regarding the potential misuse of game characters by some users, Kim clarified that responsibility lies with players, as the company has already "sold" the game to them. He stressed the importance of users "owning" games rather than adopting a "rental" model, which is common in today's gaming industry.

He added, "Of course, if a situation arises that harms the public, we would have to intervene, though we haven't encountered such a case yet. I believe issues can be resolved through individual and community self-regulation, and I trust in the positive overall function of this approach."

Kim reiterated that once players purchase the game, their actions are beyond the company's intervention, and he has no intention of enforcing sanctions.

Planned DLC Evolved Into a Sequel

During ShiftUp's investor report presentation on May 16, the studio revealed plans for a Stellar Blade sequel, targeting a release before 2027. Kim confirmed that "Stellar Blade 2" is in development, though the team is currently focused on the recently launched PC version.

He shared that the sequel originally started as DLC for the current game but grew in scale beyond initial expectations, leading to its development as a standalone title. "A 2027 release would be ideal, but with only three years remaining, I can only promise our best efforts. However, I can assure you it will be outstanding," Kim stated.

He acknowledged that Stellar Blade's narrative was weaker due to greater emphasis on gameplay and action, and noted that Korea's development of narrative-driven games is still evolving. Kim is hesitant to add extensive new content hastily but has committed to delivering a stronger story in the sequel.

Despite this, Stellar Blade's popularity continues to grow. The PC version has reached over 192,078 concurrent players on SteamDB and maintains a "Very Positive" rating on Steam.

At Game8, we awarded Stellar Blade's PC release a score of 90 out of 100, praising its visual enhancements, new missions, and additional outfits, which together create a comprehensive gaming experience. The removal of regional restrictions has also made the game more accessible worldwide. For more details on our evaluation, read our full review below!