Director Hyung-tae Kim's philosophy is simple, he wants the players who own Stellar Blade to have the freedom to enjoy it as they see fit. Unlike some developers who tightly control or outright ban mods, Shift Up has no formal policy restricting them.
“It is the user’s freedom,” Kim stated, emphasizing that players are mature enough to make responsible choices. However, he cautioned against mods that verge on hacking or disrupt the game’s core functionality, urging modders to respect the original vision of the title and to be “within reason.”
This same open attitude also extends to gameplay mods, which Kim actively encourages. He expressed excitement for modifications that enhance or expand Stellar Blade’s mechanics like increased difficulty, faster-paced combat, or learning more skills.
Nevertheless, he noted the current modding scene for the game is “weak” in his eyes, as it is only dominated by cosmetic changes rather than transformative gameplay tweaks. With this remark Kim wants to challenge the community to push creative boundaries further with their title.
Stellar Blade’s “Mature” Modding Scene
Stellar Blade’s PC version, launched on June 11, has already spawned a lot of mods, many of which lean heavily into mature themes. On platforms like Nexus Mods, the most popular creations focus on altering protagonist Eve’s appearance, often with risqué skins or adjusted body proportions.
However Kim is unfazed by these adult-oriented mods, pointing out that Stellar Blade is rated for mature audiences after all. “There’s no justification” for regulating such mods, he said, acknowledging that attempts to control them will be futile as modders will always find workarounds.
However, Kim showed some concerns about monetization. He hopes modders will share their creations freely rather than locking them behind paywalls. “I hope users enjoy the creative culture like a party where they all enjoy it together,” he said, advocating for an inclusive modding community. While he trusts players to avoid “anti-social” or harmful content, Kim reminds the fans to have some “common sense” and keep things respectful.