Part 3/9:
Stellar Blade's Rise on PlayStation and Transition to PC
Initially released on PlayStation, Stellar Blade garnered rave reviews and achieved impressive sales. It held a 9.2 audience score on PlayStation and became a critical hit. Its popularity was stubbornly resistant to the critics' criticisms, demonstrating that player appreciation can override media narratives.
The real game-changer came with its PC port. Released more than a year after the original launch, the game ignited a frenzy on Steam, breaking records that even flagship Sony IPs had struggled to surpass. Its peak concurrent players reached nearly 183,000—more than twice the previous record set by Sony's Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, which had a peak of around 77,000.