Stellar Blade: Blood Rain Progresses Toward Self-Published Sequel
The sequel marks SHIFT UP's move to self-publishing, a strategy the company says lets it fully express the IP's identity and aim for results beyond the original.
Reporting from 1 source: Game Spark.
SHIFT UP reported on August 11 that 'Stellar Blade: Blood Rain' is progressing smoothly toward its quality targets. The sequel, announced at Summer Game Fest 2026, shifts to self-publishing. The company aims to surpass the original by approaching users directly. The Switch 2 version of the original is set for release in late 2026.
The sequel's in-game trailer, shown at Summer Game Fest 2026, had 1.61 million views on IGN's official channel by the end of July, among the top numbers for titles announced there. SHIFT UP said the game will amplify the combat praised in the original and strengthen the worldview and story.
Self-publishing starts with this title. The company said it can develop marketing strategies that fully express the IP's unique identity on its own initiative, and it aims to reach users worldwide more directly. The policy was first stated in the first quarter fiscal 2026 results.
The original 'Stellar Blade' continues to draw new users through seasonal promotions and the sequel announcement. Its Switch 2 version is scheduled for the latter half of 2026, and the ESRB rating review passed in July. Development of the next major title 'Project Spirits' is also progressing smoothly.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.