Stellar Blade Sequel Could Go Multiplatform: Here’s Why It Makes Sense

Shift Up recently shared its latest earnings report, revealing exciting updates on its upcoming projects, including a sequel to its action RPG set for 2024. The studio confirmed that development on the next installment of Stellar Blade is “progressing smoothly” and that they are crafting a strategic plan aimed at maximizing sales and reaching a global audience right from launch.

This strategy includes a shift to a “first-party service model” for Stellar Blade and future titles, meaning Shift Up will self-publish the sequel. The original game was launched by a major publisher on PlayStation 5 in 2024, followed by a PC release a year later.

While the company hasn’t explicitly confirmed a simultaneous launch on PS5 and PC (and possibly Xbox Series X), the hints suggest that this is the direction they’re heading. It’s a savvy move for Shift Up.

Stellar Blade had a robust debut on PS5 in April 2024, selling 1 million copies by the end of June, and it performed even better on PC, reaching a million sales in just three days. Overall, estimates indicate that Stellar Blade has achieved around 6.1 million lifetime sales, with a roughly 60/40 split between PS5 and PC.

The delayed strategy worked well for both the studio and the platform, as Stellar Blade saw renewed interest on PC. However, this hasn’t been the case for other PS5 exclusives. Sony appears to be moving away from PC releases, as recent titles haven’t sold as well as expected. Games like Ghost of Yōtei and Saros may skip PC launches entirely, despite earlier titles making the jump after their PlayStation releases.

On the Xbox side, some first-party titles have struggled with their late multiplatform releases. Forza Horizon 5 sold 5.8 million copies in its first year on PS5, but other ports haven’t performed as strongly. For instance, Starfield managed only about 200,000 copies on PS5 shortly after its release, despite a significant overhaul aimed at attracting both new and returning players.

Alinea Analytics reported that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle sold 537,000 copies on PS5, surpassing its Steam sales despite the latter having a four-month head start. The brief gap between the game’s initial launch and its PS5 release likely contributed to its strong sales, along with its overall quality.

Amid these shifts, Xbox is reconsidering its approach to exclusives. Xbox’s chief content officer and CEO recently mentioned a reevaluation of their exclusivity strategy. This could signal a move away from their recent trend of releasing flagship games on PlayStation, suggesting that a focus on multiplatform releases might be more beneficial.

Shift Up seems poised to embrace this approach with Stellar Blade 2 as it transitions to self-publishing. While a release window hasn’t been officially announced, the sequel could potentially arrive by 2027 on various platforms. The studio is also developing another major title, Project Spirits, with plans to share more details by 2026.

Additionally, Shift Up will publish the next game from Unbound Inc., a studio founded by the creator of Resident Evil and The Evil Within, Shinji Mikami. This acquisition indicates that Shift Up is aiming for broader ambitions beyond just creating a single genre of action game.

Unbound is reportedly working on multiple projects, though specifics remain under wraps. Ideally, both these projects and Stellar Blade 2 will launch across multiple platforms from day one, as the gaming landscape continues to expand with diverse players on various systems. In this captivating yet action-focused game, combat takes center stage.