Stellar Blade 2 Should Not Be a PS5 Exclusive

Stellar Blade developer Shift Up released its latest earnings report on Monday, offering a glimpse into its upcoming slate of titles—including a sequel to its 2024 breakout action RPG. The studio confirmed that work on the next Stellar Blade entry is “progressing smoothly,” with the team currently refining a go-to-market strategy specifically tailored to maximize sales and secure the widest possible global audience at launch.

Central to this strategy is a pivot toward a “first-party service model” for the sequel and all future endeavors. This signals a shift for the studio to self-publishing, departing from the model used for the original game, which was brought to market by Sony Interactive Entertainment on PlayStation 5 in 2024, followed by a Windows PC release a little over a year later.

While the studio stopped short of explicitly confirming a simultaneous multiplatform release across PS5, PC, and potentially Xbox, the corporate language strongly suggests this is the direction they are headed. It is a shrewd strategic evolution for Shift Up.

Stellar Blade enjoyed a robust debut on PS5 in April 2024, moving over 1 million units by the end of June. Its PC arrival was even more explosive, hitting the million-sold milestone in just three days. Current estimates place the game’s total lifetime sales at roughly 6.1 million, with a fairly even 60/40 split between the PS5 and PC platforms.

This staggered release model served both Sony and Shift Up well, as the PC version reignited momentum for the title. However, the same success has not necessarily translated to other high-profile console exclusives. There are indications that Sony may be cooling on PC ports, as recent titles like Ghost of Yōtei and Saros are rumored to potentially bypass a PC release entirely.

Microsoft has also encountered mixed results when bringing its first-party library to other platforms. While Forza Horizon 5 saw respectable success on PS5 with 5.8 million copies in its first year, data from Alinea Analytics suggests other ports have struggled. Starfield, for instance, managed only about 200,000 sales during its initial two weeks on PS5, despite significant post-launch updates.

Conversely, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle moved 537,000 copies on PS5—outpacing its Steam performance despite the PC version’s four-month head start. This suggests that a shorter window between an initial launch and a multiplatform release may be the key to maintaining consumer interest. (It also helps that it’s simply a fantastic game.)

Amidst ongoing internal restructuring, Xbox leadership—including chief content officer Matt Booty and CEO Asha Sharma—has hinted at a need to “reevaluate our approach to exclusivity.” While this could suggest a retreat from the current strategy of placing flagship franchises on PlayStation hardware, a broader, multiplatform approach arguably offers the most viable path forward for the brand.

Shift Up appears to be betting on that exact philosophy as it transitions into a self-publishing entity. While a release window for Stellar Blade 2 hasn’t been formalized, it could feasibly arrive as early as 2027. In the meantime, the studio is also developing a new “flagship title” under the moniker Project Spirits, with more concrete information expected to surface sometime in 2026.

Additionally, Shift Up has acquired Unbound Inc.—a studio founded by Resident Evil and The Evil Within creator Shinji Mikami. This move underscores that Shift Up’s ambitions extend far beyond its current action-focused reputation, talented as it is at crafting satisfying combat mechanics. With multiple projects already in motion at Unbound, and the massive audience potential offered by day-one multiplatform releases, Shift Up is positioning itself for a period of significant growth.

Source: Polygon