"People thought we were out of our minds": Stellar Blade director reflects on challenges of making a console exclusive

Stellar Blade director recently said that developing the PS5 console-exclusive title was not easy. In fact, before the development began, many people thought it was a big mistake to make it a console-exclusive game. Kim Hyung-tae disclosed this fact in a video showcasing how Stellar Blade was made from an idea into a full-fledged video game.

Stellar Blade is a few days away from its global debut for PS5, and Shift Up's team is working hard to make it meet player expectations.

Stellar Blade director Kim Hyung-tae says development on the AAA console exclusive was not easy

In a behind-the-scenes video revealed on YouTube, Shift Up's team recently mentioned how the game was conceptualized. Different developers touched upon various key aspects and challenges they faced while making the PS5 exclusive.

In the same BTS video, the Stellar Blade director said that initially, when he thought about developing the game as a console exclusive, many people mocked him and his team ever since the project was announced in collaboration with Sony and PlayStation.

The director is from South Korea where the market for console titles is small compared to mobile games. Here's exactly what Mr. Kim said about the early stages of the game's development:

"When I initially decided to create this game, many people felt we were out of our minds, because in South Korea, mobile gaming dominates the market and the console market was nearly non-existent."

Looking at the increasing hype and anticipation for this game, it appears those doubting Kim and his team's abilities were wrong. The game has already gained significant popularity and a strong player count even before its full launch.

A still from the game (Image via Sony Interactive Entertainment)

For those unaware, the demo for the PS5 exclusive has so far attracted close to 690,000 daily active users since it was first released on March 29, 2024. Moreover, many players have spent over 50 hours on the limited build. It speaks volumes about how engaging and immersive it is while looking promising in the long run.

Shift Up's ambitious game is set for a full launch on April 26, 2024.

For more news on the upcoming action-adventure title, check out the articles below: