Summary
Shift Up, the Korean developer behind smash-hitStellar Blade, is coming under fire once again, this time for supposedly infringing upon copyright laws.Stellar Blademade waves earlier this year when it released to PlayStation audiences, and was generally very well received despite a series of controversies clouding its launch. Now, Korean development studio Shift Up is facing another uphill battle after it was revealed that the company is currently facing legal trouble for an unexpected reason.
The third-person sci-fi action game puts players in the shoes of Eve as she fights to reclaim the fallen Earth from its alien colonizers. By far the most successful title that Shift Up has created,Stellar Bladesold over 1 million copieswithin two months of its release. The studio has also previously developed original titles such asGoddess of Victory: Nikke,a similarly action-packed game in a futuristic setting.
The studio is coming under fire from a small, Louisiana-based film company by the name of Stellarblade LCC. While only a small indie studio, Stellarblade LCC has existed since 2006 and has produced several amateur films. Griffiths Chamber Mehaffey, the company’s founder, had his lawyer senda statement to IGNwhich included claims that his long-established company had been pushed “into digital obscurity” and that his livelihood was threatened as a result.
Stellar Blade Could Be Forced to Change Its Name
It is not the first instance of a smaller company being swamped in terms of publicity this way, and is unlikely to be the last. Several other Asian game studios have also faced similar trouble lately with their titles being translated into English. The issue is particularly poignant given thatStellar Bladewas originally titledProject EVEand only changed its name in September 2022 at the PlayStation State of Play.
The statement also claims that both Shift Up and Sony would have been aware of his existing rights regarding the name, but this is likely to be a strong point of contentionif the case does reach a courtroom. Mehaffey is also demanding that all materials branded with the “Stellar Blade” name be handed over to him for destruction. While it is highly unlikely that this will happen, particularly given that Mehaffey only lists the web domain as his licensed intellectual property, it is very possible that both Sony and Shift Up may have to pay out some form of compensation if the claimant is successful.
It will be interesting to see how the case develops, and what this could mean for the future of theStellar BladeIP. With the company releasing several DLC and hinting thataStellar BladePC port is in the works, it seems that Shift Up has its sights set on developing the game and thebrand further.
Stellar Blade
WHERE TO PLAY
RECLAIM EARTH FOR HUMANKIND The future of humanity hangs in the balance in Stellar Blade, an all-new story-driven action adventure. Ravaged by strange, powerful creatures, Earth has been abandoned, and what is left of the decimated human race has fled to a Colony in outer space. After travelling from the Colony, 7th Airborne Squad member EVE arrives on the desolate remains of our planet with a clear-cut mission: to save humankind by reclaiming Earth from the Naytiba – the malevolent force that has devastated it. But as EVE tackles the Naytiba one-by-one, piecing together the mysteries of the past in the ruins of human civilization, she realizes that her mission is far from straightforward. In fact, almost nothing is as it seems…
