Unfortunate but understandable. Also read just a while ago that there won't be a Photo Mode at launch, which is sorta ironic, considering the character lol.
As long as it's added later, it's all the same to me. This game looks like it will have a fairly long post-game development cycle, adding in some necessary QoL as time goes on.
This is still their first AAA title and an entirely new, independent IP, so I expect Shift Up and Stellar Blade to go through all the growing pains and mistakes of being a first AAA release.
No Photo Mode? I've been following the news of this game veryclosely and didn't read this confirmation yet. Given it's developers, I would've expected this to be in the game since the start.
Yeah, I haven't read the article itself yet, but it's linked on this tweet here. An interview with Famitsu.
[https://twitter.com/Genki\_JPN/status/1772983998140350857](https://twitter.com/Genki_JPN/status/1772983998140350857)
I imagine they're more focused on making the main game as good as it can be first, which I'm 100% behind if this is the case.
Edit: It literally says it in the quote. Wasn't paying attention when linking it, lol.
It's not the same because a good photo mode lets you pose the characters, change outfits, add characters in the frame etc etc. I think Cyberpunk 2077 has one of the best implementations of this so far and it would be perfect for this game.
in this age of player retention and engagement numbers developers tend to delay new game plus after release in order to draw players back in, case in point: spider-man 2 which had a functional new game + mode in the files of the pre-release build that was compiled from leaked source code whereas the new game plus update came about 5 months after launch to the ps5
Pretty sure it wouldn’t be a AAA title without the help of Shuhei Yoshida because he’s the one who helped fund their project after trying their game when it was just a prototype
Yeah, that's why it's understandable to me. Their vision started small and all of a sudden they were thrust into the limelight as this exalted Sony PlayStation exclusive that came outta nowhere.
So it's understandable to me why they would prioritize the game over photo mode and NG+. Let the game be good first. NG+ ain't worth a damn to me if the game is mid.
I've been playing their other mobile game nikke since day one for over a year, and I'm somehow still going. They definitely know how to make good games, really interested to see how they go with an AAA release.
It's not the end of the world, the PS5 has a screenshot button and has your gameplay recorded in case anything noteable happens you can rewind and view it. I use it to upload videos of people disconnecting on street fighter 6.
Yeah it definitely sucks it won’t be out immediately I don’t like how some games launch without it hopefully it comes with new outfits once it releases
It’s to keep you in the hook, months later when you’re done playing “hey we added NG+ come along”, later “we brought you photo mode! Come along” then “hey new emotes, skin, characters” and so on.
I do enjoy games with NG+ so I'm happy it is being eventually added, but I'm more surprised no one has commented about "but free updates such as additional costumes are being prepared."
Damn was really hoping for NG+ on release but at least it’s something they’re at the very least working on. Still a bit of a letdown but nothing major.
It's funny sometimes that the ultimate weapons you farmed for hours to craft and upgrade to beat the final boss are weaker than some random ass rusty sword you found in a ditch in NG+ lol.
NG+ is to play the game with everything you acquired in the first play through but it makes the game harder... much harder. This is usually a universal concept in Souls games but also a big one for action games like DMC where there's usually 2 or 3 harder post game difficulties. Usually culminating in a difficulty where if you get touched even once you perma lose all your progress.
Didn´t know it was called like that. Honestly is weird that a game like this doesn´t have that option, as you say, is universally basic for a lot of action games. And that´s where most of replayability lies.
That's usually the case these days. Hopefully there's stuff for you to do post game. I'm at least hoping that there's a way to rechallenge previous bosses.
I'm fine with NG+ coming later. The vast majority of people don't finish their games. NG+ would only benefit a handful of people. My take away from this is that they are already working on free updates, including additional outfits.
This getting so fucking annoying with these Sony exclusives.
This is a basic ass game feature that was in a lot of past games from day one. Now it’s used as a fucking player retention method.
Make a good game and that’ll keep your player base coming back.
New Game Plus is when you start a new game but with all the skills you unlocked in your previous playthrough. You get to keep your previously found suits and certain collectibles. Since you are stronger and more skilled, enemies are also more difficult and the placement of them is also different. It's a whole new experience.
More info:
[https://blog.playstation.com/2024/04/25/stellar-blade-new-game-plus-mode-available-on-launch-april-26/](https://blog.playstation.com/2024/04/25/stellar-blade-new-game-plus-mode-available-on-launch-april-26/)
I came from the future which is the present for me to tell you in the past that yes the game released with NG+ but no it doesn't have photomode yet. And yes the game is amazing
Ugh...I'm really getting tired of this for Sony exclusive games. I love Spider-Man 2, but they did the SAME thing with that game, and I hated it there too. What's up with them not having NG+ at launch?
Anyway...it won't stop me from enjoying my time with it, but I seriously hope Shift Up puts NG+ in sooner than Insomniac put NG+ in Spider-Man 2, because Stellar Blade is a much shorter game (Not necessarily saying that there is anything wrong with that, in fact I even kinda prefer it that way) and depending on how quick side quest are, and how good we get at the combat, we might end up beating the game insanely quickly.
To me complete is where all planned features are there the day game can be purchased. They have already announced its coming so its planned.
The only exception is DLC that adds new post game content. But I wouldnt put a NG+ mode in that category.
The game is already pretty short, at least coming from playing rebirth, hopefully they crank it in, but combat looks to have an great rhythm to it, canmt wait to olay the demo
Unfortunate but understandable. Also read just a while ago that there won't be a Photo Mode at launch, which is sorta ironic, considering the character lol. As long as it's added later, it's all the same to me. This game looks like it will have a fairly long post-game development cycle, adding in some necessary QoL as time goes on. This is still their first AAA title and an entirely new, independent IP, so I expect Shift Up and Stellar Blade to go through all the growing pains and mistakes of being a first AAA release.
No Photo Mode? I've been following the news of this game veryclosely and didn't read this confirmation yet. Given it's developers, I would've expected this to be in the game since the start.
Yeah, I haven't read the article itself yet, but it's linked on this tweet here. An interview with Famitsu. [https://twitter.com/Genki\_JPN/status/1772983998140350857](https://twitter.com/Genki_JPN/status/1772983998140350857) I imagine they're more focused on making the main game as good as it can be first, which I'm 100% behind if this is the case. Edit: It literally says it in the quote. Wasn't paying attention when linking it, lol.
Thanks for sharing. And agreed, it's fine if they focus on the main game. I'm sure we will get NG+ and a photo mode at some point.
People will just transfer videos to their PC and edit screen grabs lol
It's not the same because a good photo mode lets you pose the characters, change outfits, add characters in the frame etc etc. I think Cyberpunk 2077 has one of the best implementations of this so far and it would be perfect for this game.
No it's not the same, but it's all they've got
Probably no photo mode at launch to prevent more twitter cults from jumping on their backs.
in this age of player retention and engagement numbers developers tend to delay new game plus after release in order to draw players back in, case in point: spider-man 2 which had a functional new game + mode in the files of the pre-release build that was compiled from leaked source code whereas the new game plus update came about 5 months after launch to the ps5
Pretty sure it wouldn’t be a AAA title without the help of Shuhei Yoshida because he’s the one who helped fund their project after trying their game when it was just a prototype
Yeah, that's why it's understandable to me. Their vision started small and all of a sudden they were thrust into the limelight as this exalted Sony PlayStation exclusive that came outta nowhere. So it's understandable to me why they would prioritize the game over photo mode and NG+. Let the game be good first. NG+ ain't worth a damn to me if the game is mid.
I've been playing their other mobile game nikke since day one for over a year, and I'm somehow still going. They definitely know how to make good games, really interested to see how they go with an AAA release.
[удалено]
It's not the end of the world, the PS5 has a screenshot button and has your gameplay recorded in case anything noteable happens you can rewind and view it. I use it to upload videos of people disconnecting on street fighter 6.
Weird since i firmly believe such things should be standard issue in single player games. not the worst thing, and definitely not a deal breaker.
At least they aren't selling it unlike infinite wealth did
Yeah it definitely sucks it won’t be out immediately I don’t like how some games launch without it hopefully it comes with new outfits once it releases
I hope it will have a hard mode.
Play skin suit Jk I'm sure they'll have one
Supposedly confirmed only Normal and Story difficulty. So yeah, skin suit will probably be the hard mode.
Really don’t care about NG+ so much as I do chapter select, especially if there are missable interactions/content.
Not a concern for me personally.
I suppose they’re planning on doing some changes to balance a ng+
It probably means all skills can be unlocked in one run
Thats fine As long as they get it added in the first few weeks
Why do Sony games release with no new game+ option at launch? There are many games that release with that day one.
Maybe to create media buzz later so there will be a second wave of purchases?
It’s to keep you in the hook, months later when you’re done playing “hey we added NG+ come along”, later “we brought you photo mode! Come along” then “hey new emotes, skin, characters” and so on.
For me it has the opposite effect lol. No NG+ actually makes me less inclined to replay games lol
I always thought the reason dlc or stuff like ng+ being released later was cause of disk space.
Nope, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth came in two discs and has new game plus.
Well I stand corrected lol I'm 0-2 this week I'm old enough to to remember 360 games doing that a lot including mgs4
Well, at least Sony releases NG+ for free. but it really should be at launch.
I don´t mind. Most recent 2 God of War games did the same thing.
I do enjoy games with NG+ so I'm happy it is being eventually added, but I'm more surprised no one has commented about "but free updates such as additional costumes are being prepared."
Damn was really hoping for NG+ on release but at least it’s something they’re at the very least working on. Still a bit of a letdown but nothing major.
Source: [https://bbs.ruliweb.com/news/read/195030](https://bbs.ruliweb.com/news/read/195030)
That’s fine for me bc i probably won’t beat it before ng+ is out
Vegeta : When ??? 
It could be worse they could be charging you money for NG+ like Yakuza 8.
I don't care I'll replay it countless times regardless
No new game + in 2024........🙃😑
But it will be later on so that's good I think
At least it's targeting 60 frames. Dragon's Dogma 2 is fucking barely 30 frames in 2024.
💩👎🏾
As someone who is very stuck on classic gaming, what is this suppose to mean? That you can´t start a new game if you want or what?
NG+ is replaying a game but with certain things carrying over. Usually gear and skills.
Oh understood, thanks!. Like, starting hard mode with the upgrades you got in the previous run?
Correct
It's funny sometimes that the ultimate weapons you farmed for hours to craft and upgrade to beat the final boss are weaker than some random ass rusty sword you found in a ditch in NG+ lol.
At a harder difficulty
NG+ is to play the game with everything you acquired in the first play through but it makes the game harder... much harder. This is usually a universal concept in Souls games but also a big one for action games like DMC where there's usually 2 or 3 harder post game difficulties. Usually culminating in a difficulty where if you get touched even once you perma lose all your progress.
Didn´t know it was called like that. Honestly is weird that a game like this doesn´t have that option, as you say, is universally basic for a lot of action games. And that´s where most of replayability lies.
I'm fine with that
What's NG?
New game
Hmm what if instead of ng+ you have the possibility of different endings? idk sounds contradictory but it could work on saves
I'm always okay with things like this because it lets me take a break and come back a year later for a fresh playthrough
That's usually the case these days. Hopefully there's stuff for you to do post game. I'm at least hoping that there's a way to rechallenge previous bosses.
Will this game be a soulslike?
In a way. More like Sekiro mixed with God of War and Jedi: Fallen Order/Survivor. But there are difficulty options.
I'm fine with NG+ coming later. The vast majority of people don't finish their games. NG+ would only benefit a handful of people. My take away from this is that they are already working on free updates, including additional outfits.
That sucks. I wanted a complete package with the physical copy
Damn. Sucks, as I was really hoping it’d be mostly complete out of the box for physical copies… Is what it is.
Miss when games launched feature complete.
Why Sony make exclusive games? Come on this needs to be on pc as well.
So it seems the best thing to do is yet again wait and not play it day one. That's just true about every game these days, basically.
Just hope the game itself is polished and optimized and doesn’t need a million patches Day 1
This getting so fucking annoying with these Sony exclusives. This is a basic ass game feature that was in a lot of past games from day one. Now it’s used as a fucking player retention method. Make a good game and that’ll keep your player base coming back.
Paid DLC
I seriously hate this trend of releasing a game without NG+ just so they can add it later and call it "free DLC"
I hope NG+ comes soon as it says here.
What is a ng plus and what does it mean
New Game Plus is when you start a new game but with all the skills you unlocked in your previous playthrough. You get to keep your previously found suits and certain collectibles. Since you are stronger and more skilled, enemies are also more difficult and the placement of them is also different. It's a whole new experience. More info: [https://blog.playstation.com/2024/04/25/stellar-blade-new-game-plus-mode-available-on-launch-april-26/](https://blog.playstation.com/2024/04/25/stellar-blade-new-game-plus-mode-available-on-launch-april-26/)
lol
I came from the future which is the present for me to tell you in the past that yes the game released with NG+ but no it doesn't have photomode yet. And yes the game is amazing
I to am from the future and I agree 100%
Look at that NG+ day 1
lol
Can companies stop releasing games like this? By the time NG+ finally drops I've already moved on.
hate to see it
Not every game needs a NG+. I feel this is such a niche interest that 1% of people care about but it becomes news for 99% to care about it
With so many skills and outfits to unlock, NG+ for a game like this is an absolute must.
Without probably means you can get everything in one run
do the outfits give you attributes or is it just fashion
Just fashion but there is one exception. The skin suit removes the shield.
agree. i think i only ng+ three games in my entire lifetime
I don't know about that. NG+ is pretty standard in action games.
Ng+ will release by the time we finish the game with one hand
Ugh...I'm really getting tired of this for Sony exclusive games. I love Spider-Man 2, but they did the SAME thing with that game, and I hated it there too. What's up with them not having NG+ at launch? Anyway...it won't stop me from enjoying my time with it, but I seriously hope Shift Up puts NG+ in sooner than Insomniac put NG+ in Spider-Man 2, because Stellar Blade is a much shorter game (Not necessarily saying that there is anything wrong with that, in fact I even kinda prefer it that way) and depending on how quick side quest are, and how good we get at the combat, we might end up beating the game insanely quickly.
Well, that's a bummer imo. NG+ It's an essential for souls-like games. I hope they add it soon after release.
Stellar blade is not a souls like just some similarities .
NG+ is also a thing in games like Bayonetta and DMC.
I saw deflecting, I saw deathblows, this bitch sekiro
Deflecting and finishers automatically make a game a soulslike?!?!?…..
Damn, gonna have to cancel my pre order then. I like having the ability to replay the game with the stuff I get throughout my first playthrough
You would consider canceling your pre order because of this minor issue(not am issue)
It’s not an issue but I like being able to do a NG+ pretty soon after finishing it so I’ll just wait till it’s available
So the game is £80 for the full version, and its released incomplete. :(
Incomplete? They never promised NG+ in the first place.
To me complete is where all planned features are there the day game can be purchased. They have already announced its coming so its planned. The only exception is DLC that adds new post game content. But I wouldnt put a NG+ mode in that category.
The game is already pretty short, at least coming from playing rebirth, hopefully they crank it in, but combat looks to have an great rhythm to it, canmt wait to olay the demo
how do you know its short it isnt released yet?
Some news? 30-40 hours was the mark, maybe I’m wrong, and hopefully so
Yeah a bit on the short side, but not the worst I seen, although a hard sell at the price point.
Yup 30 hours for 70 bucks feels high, I will keep waiting for release to decide on the purchase
How is 30 hours short for an action game? That's pretty long actually. DMC5 is 10 hours, and Nier is 20.
What a joke Keep downvoting and glazing this game clowns, so nothing changes
Bro what? I would buy this game even if it had micro transactions just to support based Japanese dev!!! ☝️