Stellar Blade has been released for PC. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann compared the version with the PS5 and the differences are significant. However, buying the PC version is only worth it if you have already completed the game on the PS5.
With Stellar Blade, developer “Shift Up” has achieved monumental success. First on the PS5 and now also on the PC, occasionally with nearly 200,000 players simultaneously on Steam. But the game not only offers very good gameplay, but also significantly improved technology compared to the PS5 version.
Here you can clearly see why the PC is often significantly superior to the PS5. The PS5 version showed at release how well a game can be optimized.
Who tested this?
I am the Tech Editor at MeinMMO and have a passion for peripherals, testing mice, keyboards, and gaming headsets. Since 2019, I have been testing hardware for our readers at MeinMMO. In particular, gaming mice are among my absolute favorites. Besides the PS5, I also play on my Steam Deck.
Both the PC version and the game for the PS5 were purchased privately in retail or via Steam.
Benedikt Schlotmann
Hardware Editor MeinMMO
Stellar Blade: PS5 Version vs. PC
For the direct comparison, I always looked for the same view in the game and placed them side by side. All recordings were made in full HD to ensure fair comparability. On the PS5 with the best possible options, on the PC with the best settings (Very High). The PC version also uses FSR 3.0 from AMD. The 120 FPS on PC cannot be captured in the screenshots.
Example 1
Location: Starting area, Eidos VII | Available in demo: Yes
Pay attention to the light refraction of the gondola and especially the depth of field. In particular, the house walls on the right side. Also pay attention to the ground textures directly beneath Eve at the edge of the picture.
Example 2
Location: Starting area, Eidos VII, right after the intro | Available in demo: Yes
Pay attention to the skyscraper in the middle of the picture and the vegetation directly on the left side or the trees in the background. The angel figure directly to the left of Eve in the background is also a good indicator of the graphic quality of both versions.
Example 3
Location: Petelos Plaza | Available in demo: No
Pay attention to the figure above the plaque “Petelos Plaza.” Also note details such as the red gumball machine in front and the red traffic cones.
Example 4
Location: Petelos Plaza Station | Available in demo: No
You should focus on Eve: Her facial features, her hair, and especially the shadow play. Also pay attention to the railing in the background and the sunlit house wall.
Example 5 (Video)
Location: Parking garage in Eidos VII | Available in demo: Yes
You can already try out the first real boss fight against Abaddon in the demo. In the gameplay recording, I lined up the PS5 and PC versions side by side. Here you can clearly see the differences again. You can also see that the PS5 has to load data in the first 10 seconds of the intro, while the PC has the data already.
It’s best to open the video in landscape mode and full screen to clearly see the differences.
Stellar Blade looks significantly better on PC in all respects
Where does the PC benefit the most? The PC benefits primarily from details in objects and specifically the resolution of textures and depth of field. The PC version looks significantly better at every turn, provided you have the necessary hardware.
On the PS5, you can also observe brief stutters during loading, for example in the fight against Abaddon: While on PC the textures and background are immediately sharp, the PS5 continues to load the data for two seconds.
Moreover, the game feels smoother on PC thanks to the 120 FPS than on PS5. But that’s actually no great surprise. An action game like Stellar Blade simply benefits enormously from a high frame rate.
The comparison shows very clearly to me that the PS5 has to step back in many areas compared to the PC version. And Stellar Blade makes these differences particularly clear to me.
PC version is only worthwhile for absolute fans, as there is no new gameplay
Is the PC version worth it? If you, like me, have bought both the PS5 version and the PC version, you will quickly see the differences. Especially when you switch back to the console from the PC. From a graphical perspective, the purchase is definitely worthwhile, as the game looks much prettier and more detailed, and the 120 FPS are worth the upgrade in my opinion.
From a gameplay perspective, however, you won’t get anything new. If you have already completed the game on PS5, there are no new contents on PC. Also no real “18+” contents that my colleagues never tire of emphasizing and that you will search for in vain in the game. For real “18+” content, you’ll have to play Baldur’s Gate 3.
A well-known developer shows what is possible when you properly optimize a game. The improvement in FPS rate is remarkable. And it shows that it is worthwhile to launch a game optimized on the market. Because lack of optimization is a problem that many modern games face: A developer reveals what the secret of a good PC game on Steam is: Optimization
