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According to Kim, the design choices were intentional to showcase beauty and contrast the protagonist's appeal against the "inherent ugliness" of the game's dark, monster-infested world. He explained that some of the in-game enemies, such as NPCs dubbed "natives," were purposefully designed to be grotesque—lacking eyes, deformed limbs—to evoke discomfort and reflect their role within the story.
Moreover, the developer reassured fans that Stellar Blade will not feature microtransactions or DLC that could compromise the gaming experience. This stance on monetization is seen as a positive sign, appealing to players tired of in-game purchases and emphasizing their commitment to creating a pure gaming experience.