The developers of Stellar Blade spoke about the sources of inspiration, the complexity of the combat system and the world of the game

Already this month there will be a release of the third-person action game Stellar Blade, which is primarily interesting to our site because Kim Hyun-tae, the former art director of the MMORPG Blade & Soul, participated in its development. He is currently the game director for Stellar Blade. PlayStation Blog spoke with him, as well as technical director Lee Dong Gi, to learn more about the history of Shift UP, the inspiration behind the project, and more. We compiled a sample with all the important information from the interviews.

• About five years ago, following the release of the mobile game Destiny Child, Shift UP was considering making Goddess of Victory: Nikke as a dueling game for Android and iOS. During the development process, the team had a desire to start creating a console game, which became the second project.
• The inspiration to create an action game for video game consoles came from a long-time passion for video game consoles, and thus the foundation for the development of Stellar Blade was laid.
• According to the developers, they realize that fans will not be forgiving of Stellar Blade just because it is their first game on consoles. They’ve held themselves to the high standards that come with console gaming, and they promise that Stellar Blade will deliver on the quality of those standards.
• Stellar Blade’s theme is about humanity itself and explores the questions of what makes us human. The idea for the story came from observing a taxi driver strike caused by the development of autonomous driving technology. This event made the developers think about a future where people could be replaced by machines, and this concept formed the basis of the game’s plot.
• In Stellar Blade, players will follow the story of a character named Eve, and the developers aimed to create an exciting action-adventure that players will find interesting.
• The backstory of the devastated Earth in Stellar Blade is gradually revealed to players. The story begins when the Earth was destroyed by mysterious creatures known as Naytibs, forcing humanity to seek refuge in a space colony. However, tired of life in space and feeling defeated, people decide to fight the Nightibs to take back their planet.
• As the story progresses, players learn about the events that occurred between humanity and the Nightibs, and in the end, the main character Eva is faced with a choice that will determine the outcome of the story. The heroine’s task is to uncover the mystery of the Nightibs, their origins and their goals, which is a key element of the gameplay.
• The developers of Stellar Blade emphasize that creating a unique post-apocalyptic story was a serious challenge for them, given the long history of the genre in the gaming industry. They sought to avoid monotony without resorting to eccentricity or whimsical elements. Instead, they decided to reimagine and incorporate 80s and 90s sci-fi elements into the game. The team is confident that players will appreciate the detail and attention that went into creating the vibrant and realistic post-apocalyptic world of Stellar Blade, and that younger generations of gamers will find their interpretation of the genre innovative.
• One of the inspirations for Stellar Blade was the sci-fi manga Gunnm by Yukito Kishiro. Particularly inspiring was the 2019 film Alita: Battle Angel, which was based on this manga. Elements of the film’s theme and design influenced the game’s development.
• The main character Eva is a member of a landing party that is sent to Earth from a space colony. As a seasoned soldier, she encounters a cultural discrepancy between her home colony and a devastated Earth. The developers wanted Eve’s design to reflect the contrast between her athleticism and fluidity with the absurdity of the destroyed world around her, emphasizing the barren and dry atmosphere of the Earth with its destroyed cities. This contrast is intended to enhance the impression of the character and the world in which she finds herself.
• In Stellar Blade, most of the characters have cyborg features and their designs follow existing technology. Eve and her fellow Landing Force members are presented as sophisticated and simple in their appearance, while the Earth’s survivors, living in harsh conditions, have a cobbled-together appearance that reflects their struggle to survive. Even though the people of Xion call Eva “Angel”, her extravagant technology is frowned upon by some. This creates an interesting contrast between the characters and highlights the differences in their experiences and perceptions of the world.

• The developers of Stellar Blade paid special attention to creating a repulsive and terrifying image of the Knightibs. The game features enemies without eyes and with extra body parts, such as their faces, in unexpected places, which should make players feel uneasy. In addition, some Nightibs have the ability to merge with people and machines, allowing them to take on different forms.
• The authors focused on creating a game that offers deep and exciting action that is accessible to a wide audience. They strive to provide players with not just the ability to aggressively attack enemies, but also the need to closely monitor their movements and understand the flow of combat in order to respond effectively.
• Leveling up skills in the game occurs through the skill tree, as well as with the help of equipment that improves the characteristics of the characters. Players are encouraged to choose their own unique fighting style, based on a preference for speed and aggression or a strategy based on counterattacks.
• The difficulty of the game is adjusted within reasonable limits. Beginners can turn on Action Assist in story mode.
• Action Assist helps players by slowing down game action during critical moments, such as boss attacks. This gives players more time to react and counterattack. Additionally, the UI provides hints on the correct timing to parry and dodge. These features make the game accessible to a wide audience, including those who do not have much experience in action games. Players wanting more of a challenge can try Hard Mode after completing the main game.
• Dualsence controller features such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback will be used in Stellar Blade to enhance immersion. Haptic feedback will allow players to feel the mood and atmosphere of scenes, such as the opening drone scene. Adaptive triggers will offer different resistance depending on the weapon being used.
• The developers of Stellar Blade consider frame rate to be a critical element for action games. The game features three graphics modes: Performance (1440p/60fps), Balance (4k/50-60fps), Quality (4k/30fps).

Stellar Blade will release on April 26, 2024 exclusively on PlayStation 5.