The release of Stellar Blade in Japan without censorship has sparked controversy, particularly in light of the refusal of a CERO rating for EA’s Dead Space remake due to similar gore. Stellar Blade’s official Twitter account announced that the game would be released in Japan in its “uncensored” version, which raised questions about the consistency of CERO’s ratings policies.
Stellar Blade features dismemberment and gory scenes, such as a character’s arm being sliced off, leading to concerns about the rating it received from CERO. EA Japan’s general manager, Shaun Noguchi, expressed confusion and questioned CERO’s decision, especially considering that Dead Space was denied a rating due to similar content.
Noguchi highlighted the discrepancy between Stellar Blade receiving a CERO D rating (17+) and Dead Space not even being eligible for a CERO Z rating (18+). This inconsistency led Noguchi to question why Stellar Blade was approved for release without alterations when other horror games, like Dead Space and The Callisto Protocol, faced challenges in obtaining a CERO rating.
Despite his concerns, Noguchi clarified that he harbors no animosity toward Stellar Blade and even recommended the game based on his positive experience with its demo. His comments underscore the need for clarity and consistency in CERO’s ratings process for games released in Japan.
