Developer SHIFT UP and Sony have released an official Stellar Blade BIBI 'Eve' music video ahead of the game's launch on PS5 next week.
31.03.2024 - 19:57 / wccftech.com / Harold Halibut / Nathan Birch
Keeping track of all the latest video games coming out is an increasingly complex task, what with multiple PC storefronts, Xbox One, PS4, Switch, mobile, and more to keep track of, but don’t worry, I’m here to help. Every month I'll be running down the games you need to be keeping an eye on, from the big triple-A headliners, to the indies you might otherwise overlook.
After a surprisingly-packed February and March, we get a bit of a breather in April, but there’s still some things to look forward to. Sony’s slick actioner Stellar Blade, the Akira-Toriyama-inspired Sand Land, and more are on the way. On the indie front, players can set their sights on Devolver’s latest joint Children of the Sun, the gorgeous stop-motion adventure game Harold Halibut, and more.
Note: While I may have played demos or got early access to some of the games recommended in this article, in most cases I’m simply choosing games that look promising, and can’t vouch for the end product. Do wait for reviews before buying!
That said, here are the games you should be looking out for in April…
Sand Land (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 & PS5, Apr. 26)
The recently-departed Akira Toriyama left behind a very rich gaming legacy with series like Dragon Quest and the many Dragon Ball adaptations, but this is the first time his lesser-known Sand Land series has been made into a game. An open-world action RPG with plenty of unique vehicles to command, Sand Land basically looks like Mad Max with an appealing anime twist. You can check out Wccftech’s hands-on impressions of the game here. You can pre-order Sand Land here.
Stellar Blade (PS5, Apr. 26)
Originally known as Project Eve, the Korean-developed actioner Stellar Blade has garnered attention for its impressive visuals and the fact that Sony is backing and publishing the project. Stellar Blade’s revealing (and uh, not terribly supportive) costumes have raised a few eyebrows, but the game’s combination of high-octane PlatinumGames-style stylish action and impressive tech is undeniably alluring. You can pre-order Stellar Blade here.
TopSpin 2K25 (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 & PS5, Apr. 26)
The Top Spin games were a series of well-liked tennis games from the glory era of 2K Sports, but unfortunately, the franchise has laid dormant for more than a decade. Well, we’re hitting the court again this month with TopSpin 2K25. Mafia developer Hangar 13 is in charge, which makes sense as they absorbed 2K Czech, the previous developer of Top Spin. It remains to be seen if this is a successful revival, but tennis fans are hungry for pretty much anything at this point. You can pre-order
Developer SHIFT UP and Sony have released an official Stellar Blade BIBI 'Eve' music video ahead of the game's launch on PS5 next week.
Nier Automata's director believes Japanese game developers have had difficulty implementing "Western systems" because it was hard for them to move away from Japanese-made game engines.
Stellar Blade developer Shift Up, previously known for the likes of Goddess of Victory: Nikke, has repeatedly discussed the challenges of shifting to a more ambitious, current-gen action RPG, especially in a mobile-dominated market like South Korea's. In a new making-of documentary from PlayStation, some of the studio's heads explain in more detail that "many people felt we were out of our mind" for pursuing this project and platform.
With Shift Up’s Stellar Blade out in two weeks, a new behind-the-scenes video is available discussing the various processes behind development. Director Kim Hyung-tae reveals that its inspiration came from a taxi strike. With the job to be replaced by machines, he pondered what would happen if humanity were replaced.
Shift Up has asked players to “go easy” on the Stellar Blade demo, which is proving to be a hit with players.
Another Thursday means another rotation on the Epic Games Store. As of this writing, fans can no longer claim sci-fi RPG The Outer Worlds or stealth game Thief, but they can grab up cyberpunk action performer Ghostrunner. Between the three is a lot of variety in gameplay styles but also a lot of quality, as each is an excellent game with positive reviews (or a cult following in the case of Thief). Once Ghostrunner rotates out on April 18, fans will be able to claim The Big Con.
Microsoft is rumored to make a huge announcement about its back catalog after its acquisition of Activision Blizzard King.
AI roundup: With preference for online exams growing, an online assessment solutions company announced its AI-powered remote proctored exam platform to eliminate the chances of cheating. In other news, South Korea is planning to invest over $7 billion in AI to retain its name as a leading semiconductor chip provider. Know about more such AI news from today, April 9, in our roundup.
Shift Up CEO has confirmed free updates and a new game plus mode will be coming to Stellar Blade.
Published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, seems set to be a major entry among the PS5's lineup of exclusives for 2024. It's an original IP, following a character named Eve on a combat-focused adventure in the ruined Earth of a dark future. At first glance, it looks a lot like a game operating in the same mode as, but is also pulling in a bit of 's over-the top flair and a lot of FromSoftware's nail-biting approach to action in
Stellar Blade studio Shift Up has discussed its DLC plans for the upcoming PS5 exclusive.
Stellar Blade is only a few weeks away, which means developer Shift Up has started doing its best to convince people why they need to play it. Its excellent demo is definitely helping the team achieve that goal, but director Kim Hyung Tae has been doing the rounds to provide more enticing details about Stellar Blade, and they're not just about Eve's figure.