Stellar Blade Switch 2 ESRB rating hints at imminent release date announcement

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Stellar Blade for Nintendo Switch 2 has been rated by the ESRB, suggesting the handheld version could be getting a release date soon, and the rating suggests you won't need to worry about another Dispatch-like censorship situation.

Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is probably still a while away yet, so anyone looking to catch up on the original Stellar Blade who somehow missed out on its PS5 and PC releases over the last two years will presumably be looking forward to the Nintendo Switch 2 release of Shift Up's action game. The port was announced during the Nintendo Direct around Summer Game Fest time with a generic "2026" release date attached.

Obviously, a release date has to be on the way soon given that we're over halfway through 2026, but we now have a bit of evidence that suggests it could be imminent. The ESRB has rated the Switch 2 edition of Stellar Blade, and would you believe it, it's almost exactly the same as the rating for PS5 and PC. The game is still rated M, and the only difference is the removal of "also includes In-Game Purchases" from the blurb.

Earlier this year, Dispatch , the beloved superhero title from former Telltale Games devs AdHoc, released on Switch 2. The game featured sexually explicit content, and when it finally arrived on Switch 2, the option to leave this content uncensored was unavailable . Nintendo and AdHoc both said it wasn't their choice , but the situation remained unclear. AdHoc did eventually release the HR Violations Pack , but this still didn't fully uncensor the game.

Given that Stellar Blade is an especially violent game and one that doesn't shy away from sexualisation of its main character Eve, some wondered if it would share a similar fate on Nintendo's platform. However, from the sounds of things, the content will remain the same on Switch 2, with the ESRB rating promising "cutscenes and battle sequences depict close-up images of impalement, dismemberment, and decapitation," as well as "breasts that jiggle during combat," and most shocking of all, "the word 'sh*t' appears in the game."

So for those of you who liked Stellar Blade, or are looking to try it out the Switch 2 edition, you'll seemingly be getting the same game as everyone else. Too bad it won't make the story or combat any more interesting though, but Shift Up says the sequel should be a bit more substantial on that front.

Stellar Blade boss admits he "struggled" with its boring main character, but going into Blood Rain "realized that players can fully immerse themselves even in a character with a strong, distinct personality."