Tokyo, Japan – In a surprising turn of events, Sony has announced that they will be removing a controversial reference from the sci-fi action game Stellar Blade in a day one patch. The reference, which alludes to an offensive term, was deemed unintentional by the company as reported by gaming website IGN. This decision comes after a graphic juxtaposition in the game sparked controversy among players.
The offensive reference in question involves the word “hard” appearing in pink graffiti throughout the game. One location, in particular, features the phrase “Hard R Shop” near a neon sign for “R shop,” where the protagonist interacts with a character named Roxanne. The combination of these elements led to the unintentional creation of a racially charged joke in the game.
Sony has swiftly responded to the issue, stating that the offensive imagery will be replaced with new graphics in the day one patch. The company clarified that the developer, Shift Up, had no intention of including offensive content and took immediate action to rectify the situation.
Upon investigation, it was found that the controversial reference had already been removed from the game. New blue graffiti reading “crime” had replaced the offensive imagery, indicating Sony’s commitment to addressing the issue promptly. However, it remains unclear whether this change will be reflected in future disc printings of the game or solely through digital patching.
This incident is not the first time that offensive content has made its way into video games. In recent years, other developers such as Bungie and Nintendo have faced similar controversies and promptly removed the problematic elements from their games. The gaming industry continues to grapple with issues of representation and inclusivity in content creation.
Stellar Blade is set to launch as a PS5 exclusive on April 26, garnering attention from players for its unique character design. Despite the controversy surrounding the game, some have hailed it as a departure from traditional Western game narratives, citing the main character’s unconventional physique as a point of interest. As the gaming community eagerly awaits the release of Stellar Blade, the conversation around diversity and representation in video games persists.