Stellar Blade's Festive Holiday Update: A Cozy Christmas in Xion
Get ready for a holiday makeover in Stellar Blade! Shift Up is bringing the Christmas cheer to Xion with a festive update launching December 17th. This update includes new holiday-themed outfits, decorations, a mini-game, and a new option to control seasonal content.
New Holiday Outfits and Decorations:

Eve and other characters sport brand-new Christmas attire. The update features:
- Santa Dress (Eve)
- Rudolph Pack (Drone)
- I’m No Santa (Adam)
Eve's look can be further customized with a Santa Girl hairstyle and accessories like Snow Crystal Glasses, Wreath Earrings, and Sleigh Ear Cuffs.
Xion itself gets a festive makeover, with warm lights and red, green, and white decorations adorning The Last Gulp and Eve's camp. New seasonal BGM, "Dawn (Winter)" and "Take me away," adds to the cozy atmosphere.

A New Mini-Game:

A new mini-game joins the festivities! While details are scarce, it appears to involve targeting a holiday-themed drone for special rewards.
Control Your Seasonal Content:

The update introduces an option to manage seasonal content, including the Nier:Automata DLC, in the game's settings under Gameplay -> Seasonal Event Content. Choose from:
- Auto: Automatically enables/disables seasonal content based on the season.
- Disable: Deactivates seasonal content regardless of the season.
- Enable: Activates seasonal content regardless of the season.
Note: Changing this setting requires a restart to the most recent save.
Mixed Reactions:
While the update has been largely well-received, with many fans embracing the "Christmas Eve" theme and praising Shift Up's consistent seasonal updates, some players have expressed concerns. The frequent event updates and the need to restart the game to fully experience the seasonal content have been cited as drawbacks, particularly given the game's relatively short single-player campaign (around 30 hours). This contrasts with games featuring multiplayer or high replayability where cosmetic packs and rewards can be enjoyed over a longer period.

For more on Stellar Blade, check out our dedicated article!