Blood Rain is in development at SHIFT UP as the sequel to Stellar Blade, announced at Summer Game Fest 2026. The studio says it is progressing toward its quality targets and will self-publish. Platforms and release timing have not been announced.
Blood Rain is the sequel to SHIFT UP's Stellar Blade, announced at Summer Game Fest 2026 on June 6. The trailer showed action scenes and cutscenes in high-fidelity graphics, with footage reportedly taken from in-game scenes of the PC version of the first game. Multiple sources identified the protagonist as a short-haired woman named Evie; one source said the character may be Lily, the mechanic who supported the first game's protagonist, Eve. SHIFT UP gave no story details, platforms, or launch window at the announcement.
Two months later, SHIFT UP reported on August 11 that development was progressing smoothly toward its quality targets. The sequel marks the company's move to self-publishing, a strategy it says lets it approach users directly and aim to surpass the original. The Nintendo Switch 2 version of that original is set for release in late 2026.
The clearest public trouble around the project is a promotional video, not the game. SHIFT UP released a music video for "Wanna be in LOVE" Feat. Evie on July 31, tied to the in-development sequel. The video shows Evie singing and walking through the game's city and was made with game resources regenerated with AI assistance, as stated in its description; YouTube's disclosure section notes audio and visuals were partially modified or entirely generated by AI. The video drew criticism, from calls to stop using AI to complaints about low quality, including Evie's face changing unnaturally and distorted text on her suit.
CEO Kim Hyung-tae responded that Evie was built over more than a year by the studio's artists and modelers and that AI did not create her from scratch. On September 8, CTO Lee Dong-gi told TheGamer the studio takes the reactions seriously, will separate game-related content from experimental content going forward, and described AI as a tool that should support developers' creativity. On September 20, Kim confirmed the sequel is in development alongside the Switch 2 release of the original's complete edition.
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Sep 20
SHIFT UP will release Stellar Blade Complete Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 on November 6, 2026, priced at 7,980 yen including tax. A demo launched on the Nintendo eShop on September 20, and the Switch 2 version is playable at Tokyo Game Show 2026 at Makuhari Messe. The package contains the main game plus all content released so far, including collaboration costumes with NieR and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, with nearly 130 costumes total. Four Bayonetta collaboration costumes will be distributed free on the same day for Switch 2, PC, and PS5 owners. CEO Kim Hyung-tae said the port targets 60fps in both TV and handheld modes, dropping to 50fps in some scenes, and that the play feel is meant to match other platforms. He also confirmed the sequel Stellar Blade BLOOD RAIN is in development.