Shift Up says it plans to self-publish Stellar Blade 2

Shift Up says it plans to self-publish Stellar Blade 2, a change from the first game, which launched in April 2024 with Sony as publisher. The studio shared the update in an investor presentation, where it also said sequel development is “progressing smoothly.”

According to the investor presentation, Shift Up wants to move to a “first-party service model” starting with the sequel. In plain terms, that means the company intends to handle publishing itself, including marketing and release strategy, rather than relying on an outside publisher.

The studio didn’t give a release window, platforms, or other concrete details for Stellar Blade 2. What it did say is that the first game has seen steady sales since launch, and that it’s treating the series as a long-term IP.

Most of the rest of the presentation sticks to investor language, but the main takeaway is simple: Shift Up wants more control over how the sequel is sold and promoted. That’s the notable part here, especially since the original game was closely tied to PlayStation.

This also follows a busy stretch for the company. Shift Up recently acquired Unbound, the studio founded by Shinji Mikami.

For now, though, the sequel news is limited to that publishing shift and a brief development update. Everything else, including when the game arrives and where it lands, is still up in the air.