Stray is an adventure game created by indie developer BlueTwelve Studio and published by Annapurna Interactive, and while it's met with positive reviews from fans and critics alike, its lack of customization could be solved by future DLC. This third-person adventure game puts players in the paws of a stray street cat set amidst a neon-lit dystopian cyber city. With a unique premise and stunning environments, it is hard to pick out problems with this feline-filled experience. However, it's lacking in customization, which can likely be resolved with a simple DLC drop.
BlueTwelve's cofounders have come a long way since departing from Ubisoft. Having been in development since 2015, Stray was initially announced in 2020, the game has release to critical acclaim in July of 2022. It is available on PlayStation and PC and Stray is free with PS Plus Extra, bringing it to a wide audience, and possibly the only thing currently holding it back is the fact that its main character can't be customized in any fashion - at least not yet.
But while Stray offers a fascinating cyberpunk world for players to get lost in as they take control of its feline protagonist, the lack of customization options quickly begins to be felt. Stray gives players a new perspective on the adventure genre by allowing them to play as a cat modeled after BlueTwelve’s feline studio companions. With the game’s introduction of an adorable-yet-unnamed main character, it seems as though there's plenty of room for the player to make this brave alleyway cat their own.
DLC Could Add A Plethora Of Customization Options To Stray
Stray’s main problem is the lack of customization, so unfortunately players are unable to alter the character’s appearance to their liking. While the story of the game does follow the ginger tabby especially, and Stray's protagonist was inspired by real-life cats owned by the developer, allowing the player to change the appearance of the character does not seem too detrimental to the game’s story. In some ways, it might even strengthen the player’s connection with Stray’s leading feline.
Implementing a customization system for Stray would be the perfect opportunity for players to personalize their playable character. Adding options to alter the character features, breed, and accessories not only offers the ability to make each playthrough unique to the viewer but also presents players with the choice to model the character after their beloved pets in a similar way to the developer.
As of right now, it's unclear whether Stray will ever receive DLC, and less is known about whether such content would bring character customization into the mix. For now, players are left exploring Stray's big cyberpunk city as the character model chosen by the developers. Although an overhaul of cosmetic personalization is desired by some fans, something as simple as allowing players to choose between already-existing cat models could make all the difference, though a full-featured customization system would likely be the most compelling - should BlueTwelve choose to add it.
