Stellar Blade interview: creating stylish sci-fi action in a post-apocalyptic world

Stellar Blade launches in just a few short weeks on PS5. You may have already sampled the action adventure firsthand by way of the recently released demo in which Eve, a member of the 7th Airborne Squad, is sent to a desolated Earth on a mission to reclaim the planet from the mysterious, malevolent Naytiba and save humankind. If so, you’ll have had a taste of the game’s mechanics and combat, its story, and creature design. To dig in further, we sat down with Stellar Blade director Kim Hyung Tae (who is also founder of Stellar Blade development studio Shift Up)  and technical director Lee Dong Gi to learn more about the studio’s background, the game’s inspirations and more. 

Stellar Blade director, Kim Hyung Tae (left), and technical director, Lee Dong Gi (right) of Shift Up

It all began with a collective passion to create action games for video game consoles

PlayStation Blog: As Stellar Blade is a brand-new title, how and when did the idea of developing this game emerge?

Kim Hyung Tae (Kim): About five years ago, when we were talking about what mobile game title should be released after Destiny Child. We were initially thinking about creating Goddess of Victory: Nikke into a duology game for the Android and iOS platforms. It was during that process that the urge to develop a console title emerged as our second project. I have been a long-time fan of video game consoles and have always wanted to develop action games for them. The idea attracted a group of members with a shared passion, and that’s how the idea of developing Stellar Blade emanated.

With Stellar Blade being Shift Up’s first title developed for video game consoles, did you encounter new challenges or hurdles?

I am being realistic in thinking our fans would not be lenient and forgiving just because this is our debut title for game consoles. Instead, we held the same high standard that console gamers hold for their games and ensured that Stellar Blade would be on par with those games in terms of quality.

Can you tell us about the concept and theme of Stellar Blade?

The theme I dedicated to Stellar Blade is humanity. The story is about what makes us human and defines us as human–it’s quite universal. The story came to my mind one day as I witnessed taxi drivers on strike.

The strike erupted when technologies for self-driving cars began advancing, almost hinting at the implementation of autonomous cars in the near future. This instilled fear among taxi drivers that these technologies would eventually take over and replace their jobs. As I watched them on strike, I asked myself what I would do if this were to happen to me, if one day humans were entirely replaced by something non-human. This is where the theme for Stellar Blade originates. Having said that, the game’s focus should not be on that; we tried to create an action adventure game that players can enjoy as they follow Eve’s story. 

Stellar Blade reimagines the style of ‘80s and ‘90s sci-fi

The story takes place on Earth, which is ravaged by unknown creatures. Can you tell us more about the abandoned planet?

We have designed the game so that the backstory of the desolated Earth will reveal itself as the game progresses. The story begins at the point in time after Earth was ravaged by mysterious creatures called Naytiba, leading the decimated human race to flee to an outer space colony. Feeling defeated and tired of life in space, humans decide to battle Naytiba to reclaim their motherland. Players will learn the backstory and the incidents in between as they progress through the game. After discovering the truth, Eve will be faced with a decision and what she chooses is in the players’ hands.

No one knows what the Naytibas are, where they came from, or even what they want. This is where Eve comes in: to uncover the mystery surrounding these unknown creatures.

From the last remaining city on Earth, Xion, to the vast wasteland and the great desert beyond, what special attention and consideration went into designing this post-apocalyptic world?

Post-apocalypse has been one of the longest-running genres in the game industry, among many others. So, for us to avoid monotony and make Stellar Blade a unique post-apocalyptic story was a major challenge. However, on the contrary, we wanted to stay away from making it eccentric or including bizarre elements so that it would be different. We decided it was best to reimagine and render the elements from ‘80s and ‘90s sci-fi for Stellar Blade.

People have their own vision of what a post-apocalyptic world is like based on what they’ve envisioned in their heads or seen in movies and such. I’m sure many players will appreciate and admire the details and attention that went into making the post-apocalyptic world in Stellar Blade vivid and realistic. A younger generation of gamers, on the other hand, will probably find our rendition of the post-apocalyptic world quite novel.

Is there any movie in particular that you took inspiration from?

There are quite a few. However, one of the most inspirational, in terms of theme and design, is the sci-fi manga Gunnm by Yukito Kishiro sensei. It was released as an action film in 2019 under the title Alita: Battle Angel. I’d say I took a lot of inspiration from that movie.

The contrast between extinct Earth and Eve from space

Now, let’s move on to the main character, Eve. Can you tell us the concept and design that went into creating her?
 

Kim: Eve is an Airborne Squad member who is sent to Earth from an outer space colony. Despite being an accomplished soldier, there is a cultural disconnect between where she is from and Earth. So, we wanted Eve’s design to allude to the incongruity of her surroundings. Take a look at the atmosphere on Earth. It is barren, dry. Its cities are falling apart. A sharp contrast to Eve’s athleticism and fluidity. 

How about other human characters? What kind of attention went into creating them?


Most of the characters are cyborg-like. To design these characters, we adjust their designs to reflect the available technology. While Eve and their Airborne Squad companions look sophisticated, albeit simple, we gave the survivors of the earth, living in a harsh environment, a minimal, pieced-together look. Although Xion’s surviving residents refer to Eve as “Angel,” it’s also a fact that some begrudge her for her extravagant machines and technologies.


Malevolent Naytiba come in different forms, such as biological or mechanical. Can you tell us about the design and concept that went into designing them?


We focused on giving the Naytiba repulsive and appalling looks. Many have no eyes or have supernumerary body parts, like a face on an odd part of the body, to evoke a sense of uneasiness. Some of the Naytiba can merge with humans and machines, so they take on different appearances.

An action game that is challenging yet fun for everyone

Stylish action is one of the key elements of Steller Blade. Please tell us what you did to achieve the stylish action and also what the highlights of the game are.


We designed the game so everyone can enjoy the action in Steller Blade. But we don’t want it to be a game where players simply attack the enemies aggressively and perform combos against them. It’s important that players observe the enemies’ movements closely and grasp the combat flow to respond appropriately. Skills increase through the skill tree, but equipment such as Exospine and Gear will also further increase them. As each piece of equipment performs differently, players should choose their battle style to be speed-focused, aggressive to overwhelm enemies, or cautious throughout the enemy attack.


The difficulty is set to be challenging to a reasonable extent. As such, players might find themselves needing to go back to defeat bosses. The difficulty can be adjusted during the game, so I encourage players to challenge themselves at a difficulty level they feel comfortable playing. For novice action game players, there is an Action Assist in the Story Mode that I highly recommend they take advantage of.

How exactly does this Action Assist help players?


For example, during crucial moments, such as figuring out the boss’s attack pattern for counterattacks, the movement slows down to make it easier to attack. When using a certain UI, the right timing for parrying and dodging will be displayed, making it easier for players to counterattack. This feature makes the game more approachable and enjoyable, even for those who usually steer away from action games. After completing the game, players can also play Hard Mode.

Stellar Blade is said to leverage some of the unique features of the PS5 console hardware, such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. What type of experiences can players expect?

Lee Dong Gi (Lee): We harnessed these features to enhance the immersive experience. In certain scenes, haptic feedback allows players to sense the mood and feel the atmosphere surrounding the characters. At the beginning of the game, there’s a scene with a drone in which players can fully take advantage of these PS5 features. Apart from that, we’ve incorporated extensive levels of different adaptive trigger resistance assigned to the type of gun being used.

Is there anything else we didn’t touch today that you want us to know?

Kim: I think frame rate is one of the most important factors for action games. Stellar Blade offers three modes: Performance Mode, Balanced Mode, and Resolution Mode. Performance Mode supports gameplay at 1440p and 60fps, while Balanced Mode can achieve 50 to 60 fps for 4K resolution.

Lee: The Resolution Mode performs at 30fps for 4K resolution. I highly recommend this mode to those who want to enjoy the beautiful graphics. We hope everyone will select the mode that best suits them to maximize their experience.

Sonic the Hedgehog Producer Wants the Films to Become ‘Avengers-Level Events’

Paramount wants its live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movies to become “Avengers-level” cinematic events that bring together some of the franchise’s biggest characters.

Franchise and series executive producer Toby Ascher spoke about how Paramount is looking at Sonic and his friends through a wider lens during an interview with Paste Magazine. He says that the goal is for shows like Paramount+’s upcoming spinoff series Knuckles is to look at “supporting characters in depth and really build them out in cool ways.” Movies, meanwhile, will focus on a larger cast of characters and more epic narratives.

“We got really excited about the idea of expanding our characters in our world into television, specifically, because it gives us a platform to really do character studies,” he said. “We knew that, with Shadow coming into Sonic 3 and some of the bigger things that we want to do, the Sonic franchise on the movie side is going to be these Avengers-level events. They’re going to be these big, exciting stories that have a lot of different characters.”

Ascher reminds fans that when Sonic the Hedgehog 3 comes to theaters later this year, it will introduce one of the franchise’s most important characters: Shadow the Hedgehog. He’s the Vegeta to Sonic’s Goku and has proven to be a formidable foe in the past, but the series has plenty more to pull from that we have yet to see. One character fans have begged for since the live-action movies began is Metal Sonic, and with dozens of other games, shows, and even comics to pull from, there’s no telling how Paramount will proceed.

Knuckles will star in his own show when it premieres later this month on April 26, and we’ve already seen that it does use the opportunity to introduce even more characters. No other spinoff shows have been announced yet, but the door does seem to be open for more. Ascher says they started with Knuckles because Idris Elba’s comedic take on the character was strong enough to support a show.

“We thought we could translate that into a full series,” he explained. “I think it’s by far the funniest version we’ve had in any of the Sonic movies so far. It leans into weird comedy partially because of Adam Pally and because of what Idris brings in a really great way.”

It looks like Paramount is committed to making the mainline films feels huge. In addition to Sonic the Hedgehog 3 introducing Shadow, the film will callback to the ultimate lifeform’s first appearance by including Sonic Adventure 2’s main theme, Live and Learn. It’ll also play into that character’s background by including one of his most important friends, Maria Robotnik. We have yet to actually see the film for ourselves, but with its release date set for December 20, 2024, we hopefully won’t have to wait too long to at least see a more substantial trailer.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Save 33% Off Unicorn Overlord for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch

Today Amazon has dropped the price of the recently released Unicorn Overload game. You can pick it up your choice of the PS5, Xbox Series X, or Nintendo Switch edition for only $39.99. That’s a hefty 33% off its original MSRP and the best price we’ve seen since its release.

Save 33% Off Unicorn Overlord

PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch

Unicorn Overlord is an outstanding fantasy tactical strategy game from Atlus and Vanillaware. If you like games such as Final Fantasy Tactics or Fire Emblem, you’re in for a real treat. We gave Unicorn Overload an “Amazing” 9/10 and you can read up on our Unicorn Overload review to see why this is one of the best console strategy games in recent history. Here’s reviewer Eric Zalewski’s final verdict.

“Reflecting on the incredibly diverse and remarkably creative world I explored across my 45-hour journey, any issues I had with Unicorn Overlord ended up feeling like nothing more than nitpicks. The tactical combat system is unique and complex while also being easy to understand, expertly blending mechanics from many of its peers with smart new additions of its own. The interesting terrain across the continent of Fevrith makes every fight feel unique, with some of the best map gimmicks I’ve seen in any strategy RPG. Because the campaign is told through the eyes of a diverse and creative cast, its trope-filled fantasy story is elevated in a way that a more traditional storytelling style wouldn’t manage. The shorter, more personal stories work wonderfully to support a loop of exploration and liberation that had me begging to see one more tale told, one more town rebuilt, and one more battle fought.”

Soapbox: The Pokémon European International Championships Made Me Fall In Love With TCG

I choose you!

Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they’ve been chewing over. Today, Jim lays his cards on the table after visiting the Pokémon European International Championships…


Head into my brain. Take a left at ‘Obscure Zelda Knowledge,’ go past the door marked ‘Ideas for Cat Costumes #3’ and then turn right when you hit the recording of the Hamilton soundtrack playing on loop. There you will find a dusty old cabinet marked ‘Things I Will Definitely Learn.’

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha (2405.240404-2000)

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Alpha ring today.

It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.

Details can be found below!

Xbox Insider Release Notes

System Update Details

  • OS Version: XB_FLT_2405ZN25398.4396.240404-2000
  • Available: 2 p.m. PT – April 8, 2024
  • Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – April 9, 2024

New Features and Experiences

We have exciting news! Alpha users can expect something new coming to their Xbox Update Preview.

Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)

Starting today, Xbox Insiders playing cloud games via xbox.com/play will notice a controller icon in the guide when connected and playing on a browser. This supports users in connecting a controller when playing on a browser.

  • Note: Users on browser will need to enable Preview features on their browser to gain access to the feature. This is done by clicking on your profile picture at xbox.com/play and then select Settings and then enable “Preview features.”

Fixes Included

Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:

System

Known Issues

While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.

Audio

  • Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
    • Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
    • Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
      • Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.

Networking

  • We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
    • Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.

As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

What Happens to Your Feedback

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha (2405.240404-2000) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

New Starfield ‘DLC-Sized’ Mod Lets You Create Entire Colonies, Build Mechs, and More

If you’re looking for ways to expand Starfield’s replayability, a new “DLC-sized” mod is now available, allowing players to build their own colony, create mechs, and more.

Over on Nexus Mods yesterday, modder TankGirl444 uploaded their latest project, TGs Galactic Colonies Expanse. The creator describes it as a “new DLC-sized mod” for Bethesda’s 2023 space action RPG. The description touts that those who download it will be able to “land on any world and build [their] own empire!”

TankGirl444 explains that the mod took them a month to craft and that it expands on their previous mods that were aimed at improving and expanding player home and building in Starfield. More importantly, it greatly expands the Outpost mechanic, allowing players a more streamlined way to mine materials without having to create different outposts.

The mod’s description also explains that it includes “fully constructed buildings that are prefabricated and buildable.” This includes biodomes, which allow players to plant a small piece of green on desolate and barren wasteland planets.

Interestingly, this mod introduces a farming system where players can farm, craft, and sell fruits and veggies. It even allows you to have your own livestock. Alongside an expansive farming system, the mod features a new workbench called the colony food printer, which adds new food items and recipes.

Yet, the thing I found most intriguing is how this new mod brings functional mechs into Starfield, as seen in the image below. Those who played Starfield or are familiar with the events before the game, mainly The Colony War, will know that mechs have a place in Starfield lore.

Ahead of the game’s release, Bethesda revealed that mechs were in the game, but you could not use them as they were banned after the conclusion of the Colony War. This mod brings back the mechs, letting you craft and use them as a defense for your outposts. It also reveals new turrets and weapons you can craft to defend your virtual property.

Starfield has been out for roughly six months now, and alongside TGs Galactic Colonies Expanse, there are a slew of other quality-of-life mods that help enhance the gameplay experience. Among them are one that improves the frustrating inventory UI, another that provides a map of New Atlantis so you don’t get lost while exploring the massive city, and another that lets you seamlessly travel through space.

While there are many modders adding quality-of-life improvements to Starfield, Bethesda Game Studios is also introducing some changes via patches. The most recent update, Starfield Update 1.10.31, removes an annoying penalty players can receive when playing the lockpicking minigame.

Blogroll Credit: TankGirl444 / Nexus Mods

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Pick Up a 512GB Nintendo Switch Memory Card for Only $25.99 on Amazon

Amazon has discounted the SanDisk Ultra 512GB Micro SDXC Card down to $25.99. This is an excellent price for a 512GB Micro SDXC card from a well-known and respected brand. It’s fully compatible with the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and ASUS ROG Ally portable handhelds. It also comes with a SD adapter for devices that only take full-sized SD cards. SanDisk Micro SDXC cards are far and away our most recommended memory cards for the Nintendo Switch console.

512GB SanDisk Ultra Micro SDXC Card for $25.99

If you’ve started compiling a collection of digital games, you probably already know just how limited the Switch’s base storage capacity. The Switch and Switch OLED consoles have 32GB and 64GB of internal storage, respectively, with some of it reserved for the OS. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom uses up 16GB and Breath of the Wild about 13.5GB. If bought digitally, those two games alone would take up all of your internal storage on the OG Switch console. There’s only one expansion slot in the Switch console so you want to make sure you get the biggest card you can afford.

The SanDisk Ultra Micro SDXC card is compatible with virtually any device that accepts the Micro SDXC card standard. That includes the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and the ASUS ROG Ally. It boasts a U1 A1 rating with read speeds of up to 150MB/s. This is the perfect card for the Switch because the Switch console cannot take advantage of higher speeds (its card reader is limited to U1 A1). However, if you want to get a Micro SDXC card for your smartphone, GoPro, DSLR, or any other device that can benefit from faster speeds, you might want to check some other excellent Micro SDXC cards that having a U3 A2 rating.

Check out all of the best Nintendo Switch deals for sales on other games and accessories.

Baldur’s Gate 3 studio will likely bring their next game to early access again, but admit it’s not for every dev

It’s odd to think back on a time before Baldur’s Gate 3 – and even stranger to think that the sprawling Dungeons & Dragons RPG was actually kicking around for a long while before its 1.0 release blew up awards shows, social media feeds and fan-fiction hubs last summer. Putting the game out into early access at the end of 2020 – multiple years before it was ready for a full release – worked out very well for Larian though, so it’s maybe no surprise that they plan to do exactly the same with whatever comes next.

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Friday the 13th: Resurrected Canceled Following Copyright Infringement Claim

Friday the 13th: The Game continues to be a legal nightmare for anyone involved. The team behind the Resurrected mod announced that the project’s future is up in the air after receiving a copyright infringement claim.

Announced on the official Friday the 13th: Resurrected Discord and X/Twitter, the team behind the project announced it received a cease and desist letter from an attorney representing Horror, Inc., which owns the rights to the Friday the 13th film franchise. The cease and desist letter, which is attached to the post below, mentions that the fan mod is an “unauthorized use” of the IP, describing it as an “unlicensed, knockoff Friday the 13th video game.”

In the post, the team behind Friday the 13th: Resurrected states the project is has been canceled in response to the letter. They plan to pursue work on another project. The team notes that it’s “still waiting for response from some people we have contacted,” but is currently working on erasing all of the content behind the project, including the official X/Twitter account and the recently launched website.

“It’s a shame that someone wants to fight against a fan-made project with no profit made,” the team behind the project wrote. “It wasn’t our intention to ‘hurt the brand’ as Horror Inc. claims we did.”

Friday the 13th: Resurrected’s development team initially planned to announce a release date next Monday, April 15. The project was designed as a free mod based on the 2017 horror game. The mod would have been free to own and include dedicated multiplayer services and fan-made content, including new characters and skins.

The fan project aimed to revive the horror game after its publisher, Gun Interactive, announced it was delisting at the end of 2023. While the game remains playable for those who bought it before its delisting, Gun Interactive plans to shut down the servers altogether on December 31, 2024. Before its delisting, Gun Interactive was forced to halt development of the new game roughly two years after its release; among the canceled content planned for Friday the 13th, The Game included a werewolf mode, with gameplay similar to Fortnite’s Imposters mode or most notably, Inner Sloth’s social deduction game Among Us.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Unnerving £2 gem Buckshot Roulette is working on a multiplayer mode so you can play shotgun roulette with pals

Buckshot Roulette is simple, and simply unsettling. Sat across the table from a mysterious opponent clad in a deeply unnerving toothy mask, you pick up a shotgun loaded with shells. Then, you decide whether to point the gun at your opponent or yourself, and pull the trigger. Some of the shells are live, and others are blanks. Guess correctly, and you get to go again.

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