Work is already underway on Stellar Blade 2, and its developers have indicated the sequel will be self-published. Sony Interactive Entertainment published the first Stellar Blade game, and developer Shift Up has, for now, somehow managed to escape assimilation by the console maker, which often pursues purchasing studios that release successful games for the PlayStation. Stellar Blade launched for the PlayStation 5 in April 2024, where it remained a console exclusive for a little over a year until arriving on PC in June 2025. It was around its PC release when the game achieved its all-time concurrent player count of over 192K players on Steam.
While not a whole lot has been said about the next game, it has been revealed in Shift Up’s latest financials that the studio is planning to take the reins for the sequel and self-publish it. Rumors are also suggesting that a console-exclusive run is out, and it will launch across multiple platforms at the same time. The following is per Shift Up Q1 2026 financial report (via TechPowerUp).
“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 IP, and we expect to communicate the unique appeal of its universe to players more directly and effectively. Building on the strong fandom and evergreen IP status established by the first , we are formulating an optimal go-to-market strategy designed to maximize sales and reach a broad global audience from day one.
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.”
– Shift Up
By taking over publishing duties, Shift Up will be able to further cater to specific markets with the next release. The studio has previously said it wants to focus more on its player base in China. where up to 70% of the game’s total players are reported to be, and it might even include locations in China in the next game, while still reaching a global audience. Stellar Blade 2 could arrive for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox in 2027 or early 2028.