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[GrayChild]

https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-fans-rally-against-shift-up-for-stellar-blade-which-is-now-exclusively-not-on-xbox-series-x-s

It feels a bit like de ja vu in some ways. But we're back to a universe of games exclusively skipping Xbox.

This past week, fantastic action game Stellar Blade shed its PlayStation console exclusivity by announcing a Nintendo Switch 2 version, following the reveal of its sequel, Stellar Blade 2.

Stellar Blade was initially a PS5 exclusive before joining Windows PC last year to huge fanfare. Stellar Blade on PC rocked up with tens of thousands of concurrent players, proving beyond any doubt that Stellar Blade has huge franchise potential.

Developer Shift Up began signaling for some time that it wants to find Stellar Blade a bigger audience across more platforms. Many Xbox fans were hopeful that this would, of course, include Xbox. Unfortunately, for now, it seems it doesn't.

Fans of games like Nier Automata and Devil May Cry will be readily familiar with Stellar Blade and its gameplay. You play as Eve in the first game, tasked with reclaiming a destroyed Earth from a mysterious and monstrous threat.

These types of experiences tend to do well on Xbox, given its audience's mature-skewing preferences. But for whatever reason Shift Up seems to have decided to skip Xbox for now. Xbox fans are rallying quite hard across Shift Up's social media presences as a result.

I'm trying to find out details on whether or not Stellar Blade (or indeed, Stellar Blade 2 "Blood Rain") will hit Xbox. It's usually quite tough to find out exactly what's going on with ports, as they're subject to strict NDAs and contractual discussions at a higher level.

I don't see any particular downside for either Microsoft or Shift Up with regards to porting Stellar Blade. It could be that Shift Up is looking for Xbox Game Pass guarantees to offset risk on the port, and I would argue Xbox should absolutely oblige if that's the case. Stellar Blade would do incredibly well on Xbox Game Pass, and games like that typically come with Xbox Play Anywhere support on top. Stellar Blade is also a game that would perform well on Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Windows PC handhelds like the Xbox Ally X.

It could be that PlayStation has a specific deal in place to prevent an earlier Xbox port. PlayStation sees Xbox as its primary competition, and it was years before we saw games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Death Stranding hit Xbox.

It could also be a simple case of Shift Up being a comparatively smaller, and newer team. Back-porting games designed for 16GB RAM to the 8GB RAM Xbox Series S has been a challenge for some teams, not just technologically, but perhaps more importantly, financially. Microsoft presently requires developers to build S versions of their games, despite its smaller install base. Microsoft could (and should) step in to support studios struggling here, but it's unclear if Microsoft has any sort of relationship with Shift Up right now.

Either way, if Xbox fans make enough noise about it, I'm sure it'll happen down the line. Whether that's via an Xbox Game Pass deal or otherwise remains to be seen, but I would argue it's really on Microsoft to sort this one out.

 

[Gonzito]

 

[Radical_3d]

Either way, if Xbox fans make enough noise about it, I'm sure it'll happen down the line.

If the three fans of Xbox make enough noise it wouldn't be heard in the far east. Where Xbox is a curiosity for academics.

 

[cireza]

Stellar Blade was not initially a PS5 exclusive though. It became after Sony bought the exclusivity.

 

[bitbydeath]

Whether that's via an Xbox Game Pass deal

 

[Alan Silvestro]

 

[OuterLimits]

Stellar Blade exclusively skipping Xbox makes more sense than Atlus releasing Persona 4 and 6 on everything except the console that is very popular in Japan.(and elsewhere of course)

 

[yogaflame]

Stellar Blade was not initially a PS5 exclusive though. It became after Sony bought the exclusivity.

Because Sony under Yoshida believe in there project thats why Sony supported it.

 

[cireza]

Because Sony under Yoshida believe in there project thats why Sony supported it.

It is yet another case of a game being multiplatform and then being privatized by Sony, whatever the reason.

 

[yogaflame]

https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-fans-rally-against-shift-up-for-stellar-blade-which-is-now-exclusively-not-on-xbox-series-x-s

It feels a bit like de ja vu in some ways. But we're back to a universe of games exclusively skipping Xbox.

This past week, fantastic action game Stellar Blade shed its PlayStation console exclusivity by announcing a Nintendo Switch 2 version, following the reveal of its sequel, Stellar Blade 2.

Stellar Blade was initially a PS5 exclusive before joining Windows PC last year to huge fanfare. Stellar Blade on PC rocked up with tens of thousands of concurrent players, proving beyond any doubt that Stellar Blade has huge franchise potential.

Developer Shift Up began signaling for some time that it wants to find Stellar Blade a bigger audience across more platforms. Many Xbox fans were hopeful that this would, of course, include Xbox. Unfortunately, for now, it seems it doesn't.

Fans of games like Nier Automata and Devil May Cry will be readily familiar with Stellar Blade and its gameplay. You play as Eve in the first game, tasked with reclaiming a destroyed Earth from a mysterious and monstrous threat.

These types of experiences tend to do well on Xbox, given its audience's mature-skewing preferences. But for whatever reason Shift Up seems to have decided to skip Xbox for now. Xbox fans are rallying quite hard across Shift Up's social media presences as a result.

I'm trying to find out details on whether or not Stellar Blade (or indeed, Stellar Blade 2 "Blood Rain") will hit Xbox. It's usually quite tough to find out exactly what's going on with ports, as they're subject to strict NDAs and contractual discussions at a higher level.

I don't see any particular downside for either Microsoft or Shift Up with regards to porting Stellar Blade. It could be that Shift Up is looking for Xbox Game Pass guarantees to offset risk on the port, and I would argue Xbox should absolutely oblige if that's the case. Stellar Blade would do incredibly well on Xbox Game Pass, and games like that typically come with Xbox Play Anywhere support on top. Stellar Blade is also a game that would perform well on Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Windows PC handhelds like the Xbox Ally X.

It could be that PlayStation has a specific deal in place to prevent an earlier Xbox port. PlayStation sees Xbox as its primary competition, and it was years before we saw games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Death Stranding hit Xbox.

It could also be a simple case of Shift Up being a comparatively smaller, and newer team. Back-porting games designed for 16GB RAM to the 8GB RAM Xbox Series S has been a challenge for some teams, not just technologically, but perhaps more importantly, financially. Microsoft presently requires developers to build S versions of their games, despite its smaller install base. Microsoft could (and should) step in to support studios struggling here, but it's unclear if Microsoft has any sort of relationship with Shift Up right now.

Either way, if Xbox fans make enough noise about it, I'm sure it'll happen down the line. Whether that's via an Xbox Game Pass deal or otherwise remains to be seen, but I would argue it's really on Microsoft to sort this one out.

 

[Radical_3d]

It is yet another case of a game being multiplatform and then being privatized by Sony, whatever the reason.

Imagine complaining about Sony's financial muscle on a Microsoft thread.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

It could be that PlayStation has a specific deal in place to prevent an earlier Xbox port. PlayStation sees Xbox as its primary competition, and it was years before we saw games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Death Stranding hit Xbox.

Presumably if Shift Up aren't commenting on the potential for an Xbox port, it's down to an exclusivity agreement that prevents them from talking about porting to competitor hardware.

 

[cireza]

Imagine complaining about Sony's financial muscle on a Microsoft thread.

Where did I complain ? I am just stating a fact here.

 

[Pejo]

Part of me believes this is a Series S problem, but part of me thinks it's some clause on the Playstation publishing deal. Either way, it really sucks for XBROS, it's a great game.

 

[DenchDeckard]

Sony bought the exclusivity so it might never come. They lock shit down for Xbox for as long as possible.

 

[PnCIa]

Jizz Cordon telling Microslop what he wants them to do so he can feel relevant.

 

[Baemono]

Developer Shift Up began signaling for some time that it wants to find Stellar Blade a bigger audience across more platforms. Many Xbox fans were hopeful that this would, of course, include Xbox.

What does he mean by « of course » ? This is far from obvious, quite the opposite actually

 

[clarky]

Part of me believes this is a Series S problem, but part of me thinks it's some clause on the Playstation publishing deal. Either way, it really sucks for XBROS, it's a great game.

If they can get it running on a switch then I'm sure that rules out a Series S problem.

 

[BigLee74]

Game not on Xbox still not on Xbox!

Tit for tat? These are the real console wars

 

[Pejo]

If they can get it running on a switch then I'm sure that rules out a Series S problem.

Technically Switch 2, but your point isn't lost on me.

 

[Radical_3d]

Where did I complain ? I am just stating a fact here.

Right here:

It is yet another case of a game being multiplatform and then being privatized by Sony, whatever the reason.

Another case, among how many. A drop in the ocean of outspending Sony making exclusives via 80 billion dollars worth of acquisitions. The thing is that they were stupid and 7 of those 80 billion went to Bethesda and then they compromised the company with the other 73. And then stating that a medium budget game that got financially backed by Sony into temporal exclusivity is yet another case. It's pretty transparent but if you want to play dumb you do you.

Sony bought the exclusivity so it might never come. They lock shit down for Xbox for as long as possible.

Speaking of which. Deckard in Spain for this kind of irony we say: "los cojones como las bolas de los leones del Congreso de los Diputados".

 

[LectureMaster]

Jez has obviously improved his taste I guess..

 

[Dr.Morris79]

'The last man left at MS corp who wants curvy women in games'

 

[cireza]

Another case, among many.

Precisely. Sony have been doing this regularly for 30 years.

 

[Radical_3d]

Precisely. Sony have been doing this regularly for 30 years.

Imagine complaining about Sony's financial muscle on a Microsoft thread.

 

[cireza]

So actually, you are in straight up denial of how Sony proceeds, and create a narrative about people you answer to.

The amount of money doesn't really matter. It is how it is used. Despite having a ton of money, MS rarely blocked exclusives that were previously multiplatform games. While this has been how Sony stormed the market, starting with Tomb Raider II and III, and continued to do this years later with, to name only a few, Street Fighter V, Final Fantasy games or Stellar Blade.

That's just how they proceed.

 

[Brucey]

Either way, if Xbox fans make enough noise about it, I'm sure it'll happen down the line. Whether that's via an Xbox Game Pass deal or otherwise remains to be seen, but I would argue it's really on Microsoft to sort this one out.

Absolute delusion. Simply no need to spend the effort to shoehorn onto series s to then lose a ton of potential revenue by letting it go on gamepass. Can just target 90+ million ps5s and even more PCs? That they are targeting switch 2 at 20 million units versus mayne 30 million series consoles says it all really. Just no momentum for series gen.

 

[Radical_3d]

So actually, you are in straight up denial of how Sony proceeds,

MS rarely blocked exclusives that were previously multiplatform games

It's drinking coffee time here, please.

 

[Calverz]

I played stellar blade demo on ps5 for about 20 minutes. I don't see the hype other than the arse.

 

[cireza]

...

So you basically have nothing to argue against these facts, got it.

 

[midnightAI]

It is yet another case of a game being multiplatform and then being privatized by Sony, whatever the reason.

Sony funded the game, if Sony hadn't become the publisher and paid for 90% of development including giving them dev kits this game would not have been the game it become and we certainly wouldn't have had the Stellar Blade 2 we will be getting because of it.
The original scope for this game was a fraction of what was eventually released, Sony funded the studios expansion into much larger studio and even helped with development and testing.

 

[Baemono]

I played stellar blade demo on ps5 for about 20 minutes. I don't see the hype other than the arse.

Korean knock-off of Bayonetta

 

[Radical_3d]

Korean knock-off of Bayonetta

And Bayonetta was a thirsty knock-off of DMC3. But don't tell that to Kamiya fans.

So you basically have nothing to argue against these facts, got it.

Not my fault that you don't know shit about Xbox or even Microsoft's history.

 

[xrnzaaas]

 

[Baemono]

And Bayonetta was a thirsty knock-off of DMC3. But don't tell that to Kamiya fans.

Which reminds me I need to buy DMC V when it will launch in two weeks

 

[PlayStaytion]

"The only way to grow up is to buy your gaming rig."

Asha Sharma

 

[Radical_3d]

Which reminds me I need to buy DMC V when it will launch in two weeks

Maybe I'm just getting old but this one didn't clicked on me.

 

[Mokus]

It is yet another case of a game being multiplatform and then being privatized by Sony, whatever the reason.

Stellar Blade should have been much smaller in scale but Sony financed it additionally to make it a AAA game. Microsoft too financed plenty of games the same way. These kind of timed exclusives are actually beneficial for the game and gamers.

 

[Pejo]

Korean knock-off of Bayonetta

Virtually nothing like Bayonetta other than the skin-tight default outfit.

 

[Baemono]

Virtually nothing like Bayonetta other than the skin-tight default outfit.

I played the demo, reminded me a lot of Bayonnetta, especially the "witch-time" last minute dodge that slows down time to do your thing

 

[ShirAhava]

I wanna laugh about this but

I feel the same way about Tales of Berseria and Street Fighter V never coming to Xbox ONE

I have them on PC but My XBone collection for that generation just feels...eternally incomplete

 

[Pejo]

I played the demo, reminded me a lot of Bayonnetta, especially the "witch-time" last minute dodge that slows down time to do your thing

That's like saying Twisted Metal is a rip off Gran Tourismo because you drive a car. Stellar Blade's combat doesn't even open up until a few upgrades in, which would be a more fair criticism of the gameplay.

 

[DEAD ORIGINAL]

Jizz Cordon telling Microslop what he wants them to do so he can feel relevant

Leave him alone he's lost a lot of weight and he's had a boner the other day.

He had a shit and looked at the Gears E day women.

 

[Felessan]

Part of me believes this is a Series S problem, but part of me thinks it's some clause on the Playstation publishing deal. Either way, it really sucks for XBROS, it's a great game.

And there is a part about dead platform and game leans heavily to asian market

 

[Viruz]

PlayStation sees Xbox as its primary competition

 

[cireza]

I feel the same way about Tales of Berseria and Street Fighter V

Please understand that thanks to Sony, Namco Bandai and Capcom have been saved and that otherwise these games would have never existed

 

[Signalis]

Why would developers release a game on a console whose user-base doesn't buy games?

 

[Prodyhig]

Why would developers release a game on a console whose user-base doesn't buy games?

I don't think anything else needs to be said.

The Xbox Series is a dead console in terms of its user base.

Worrying about releasing a port for something that's dead makes no sense.

 

[Orbital2060]

 

[WX3]

I don't mind, it just gives me another solid reason to invest in a PlayStation console. I bought the PS5 for this shit, but I play on the XBOX and PC the most. If in the future by chance we do see an XBOX launch, well fuck me I will buy it again!