Stellar Blade First Update Will Remove Unintentional Racist Art

Sony will release an update for Stellar Blade on its launch day to fix unintentional racist language found in the game's graffiti art. The problem was noticed during reviews after an image of the offensive art circulated online.

Stellar Blade's First Update Will Remove Unintentional Racial Slur Art Reference

The controversy arose from the proximity of two visual elements: a neon sign for the in-game "R Shop" owned by Roxanne and a graffiti reading "Hard." When seen adjacent to each other, it seemed to reference a racial slur.

In a statement from an interview, PlayStation acknowledged the issue, stating:

"The placement of two graphics near each other in Stellar Blade resulted in an unintentionally objectionable phrase. Shift Up had no intention of creating offensive artwork and will be replacing the graffiti for the Day 1 patch."

Sony emphasized that the offensive reference was unintended, and Shift Up, the developer, had no intention of creating artwork that could be perceived as racist or discriminatory. To address the concern, the graffiti will be replaced in the game's day-one patch.

PlayStation clarified that the patch would address the issue for all users, including those with physical copies of the game. Reports indicate that the graffiti has already been changed, replacing "Hard" with "Crime."

A Reminder For a Positive Gaming Experience

This Stellar Blade incident highlights the importance of sensitivity and awareness when creating content for a diverse global audience. Unintentional references to offensive language or imagery can greatly impact players and the gaming community.

Sony and Shift Up have shown their commitment to creating a positive gaming experience for all players because they are taking quick action to address this issue.

Stellar Blade, set to release on April 26th exclusively on PlayStation 5, has attracted attention for its intense combat and eye-catching character designs. Despite this minor setback, early reviews indicate that the game will be very successful.