Unique Approach: Stellar Blade Steers Clear of Death Stranding Controversy

While Stellar Blade introduces its own controversy, it successfully navigates away from a contentious aspect of Death Stranding's original release.
Unique Approach: Stellar Blade Steers Clear of Death Stranding Controversy

Highlights

  • Stellar Blade introduces collectible Cans that enhance gameplay without featuring real-world brands, avoiding immersion-breaking.
  • The game's original in-universe branded Cans add depth and character development, steering clear of the controversy faced by Death Stranding.
  • EVE's interaction with the Cans offers unique bonding opportunities and enriches the game's world, providing a distinct experience for players.

Exploring the vast universe of Stellar Blade unveils a plethora of collectibles for players to uncover, ranging from essential items like crafting materials and upgrade components such as Omnibolts and Tumbler Expansion Modules to new Gear and Exospines. Among these collectibles, Cans stand out as a delightful addition that not only enriches the game's world but also manages to avoid a controversial misstep seen in Death Stranding.

While Stellar Blade is not devoid of controversy, with some players expressing discontent over perceived censorship in a day-one patch, it has skillfully averted a potentially divisive issue by steering clear of real-world brands on its collectible Cans, unlike Death Stranding's past blunder.

Stellar Blade’s Unique Can Collectibles

Unlike Death Stranding, which faced backlash for featuring real-world Monster Energy drinks as in-game items, Stellar Blade took a different route. The developers contemplated using popular brands like Pepsi or Coca-Cola for the Cans but ultimately decided against it. Opting for original, in-universe branded Cans (totaling 49 in the game) turned out to be a wise move, steering clear of the pitfalls of blatant product placement.

Benefits of Fictional Brands in Stellar Blade

By incorporating fictional brands for the Cans, Stellar Blade adds depth to its lore and world-building. These in-universe beverages become a part of EVE's character development, offering bonding moments with Lily and insights into the game's universe. The unique branding not only enhances the gameplay experience but also sets the game apart, especially for completionists aiming to unlock all of EVE's outfits.