Shift Up, the developer behind the will receive action game Stellar Blade has confirmed that Sony will not serve as the publisher on the sequel. This further supports that the title will most likely see a multiplatform release upon launch, rather than Sony exclusivity. Instead, the Korean company behind the game will self-publish the follow-up title, presumably to be called Stellar Blade 2. In an earnings report, Shift Up stated that the decision would help the franchise’s “unique appeal” be communicated “more directly and effectively.”
Stellar Blade launched on the PlayStation 5 exclusively back in April of 2024, with a PC port being released a little over a year later in June of 2025. The studio had made clear a PC port was coming, even at the time of initial release. The game was positively received, with us giving it an 8/10 and stating, “Stellar Blade delivers on its key promises with gusto and doesn’t leave you disappointed.” Fans of the game have compared it in some ways to a mash-up of titles like NieR: Automata and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Beyond the PlayStation 5 and PC, no additional ports have been announced yet. Shift Up has control of the IP, so an Xbox or Switch 2 port could be on the horizon, with the studio stating in the earnings presentation that they are “actively exploring further platform expansion.” There is no official window for Stellar Blade 2 at this time, with the company currently focused on a new IP named Project Spirits, which has been confirmed for a multiplatform release.
Shift Up stated when addressing the Stellar Blade sequel:
Development of the next Stellar Blade title is progressing smoothly, on track to meet our targeted quality standards. Notably, starting with this next title, Shift Up will transition to a first-party service model. This will allow us to lead marketing strategies that fully reflect the distinctive identity of the Stellar Blade IP, and we expect to communicate the unique appeal of its universe to players more directly and effectively.
With three key tailwinds – high-quality self-publishing capabilities, a sales maximization strategy, and a proven IP fanbase – we are confident the next title will deliver meaningfully improved results compared to its predecessor.
Project Spirits, previously known as Project Witches, is an AAA action RPG that is aiming for a 2027 release window. It is being published by Level Infinity, a subsidiary of Chinese conglomerate Tencent. Based on this news, it appears the company will begin taking a more self-contained approach to releasing games following their next title.
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