Stellar Blade 2 Confirmed: PlayStation's Hottest Game Getting A Sequel Very Soon

Stellar Blade fans have much to be happy about because ShiftUp has confirmed that a sequel is being developed and will be out much sooner than expected. Yes, Stellar Blade 2 is happening, and this information makes ShiftUp's plans very clear: within the next two years, they want to expand the Stellar Blade IP, make it available on more platforms, and release a full-on sequel.

That's a huge change in the way games are made these days, especially for a new IP that just came out on the market. Despite this, Stellar Blade's big success may only be the start of its rise as a major PlayStation franchise. However, these days, it takes AAA games at least six years to release a follow-up, so the idea that Stellar Blade 2 could come out before 2027 seems almost impossible.

Who doesn't know? Stellar Blade started as Project Eve and was supposed to be for Xbox before Sony stepped in and got an exclusive publishing deal. Reports say that Shuhei Yoshida personally helped make the partnership happen. This could be just as important for Sony as their investments in God of War or Horizon.

Horizon is a good PlayStation IP, but many fans and critics say Stellar Blade has an even higher ceiling. The stylish combat and eye-catching graphics have made a big impression on people, not just as a game but as a brand as well. Now more than ever, Sony needs well-known IPs and fans who stick with their favorite franchises.

Stellar Blade for PC hasn't even come out yet, but it's already getting a lot of attention. It already has over 68,000 followers on SteamDB, which is twice as many as The Last of Us Part II and more than Assassin's Creed Shadows. Even though there isn't an official release date yet, the game is already one of the top five sellers on Steam.

Some people are worried about Stellar Blade being region locked on Steam and Denuvo DRM, but most people agree that the game could be a huge hit on Steam if the PC port is good. Some say it might even be faster on PC than Spider-Man 2 and God of War: Ragnarök, though Ghost of Tsushima's record of 77,000 players at the same time may stay the same.

What really helps is being able to get to this. Stellar Blade is easier for more people to play than games like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth or Doom: The Dark Ages, which have more difficult graphics requirements.

And it's not just a PC launch that can happen. ShiftUp has big plans for the world of Stellar Blade, such as crossover events that could bring in even more fans and money. The studio has worked with Square Enix and NieR: Automata before, so a Final Fantasy VII crossover with Tifa? That's pretty much permission to make money.

There are also rumors of a possible Helldivers 2 collaboration, which would be good for both games since Helldivers is a long-running PlayStation IP with a growing fan base. Crossovers like these aren't just for fun; they're also smart because they bring in fans from different franchises and make brands more well-known.

At the same time, ShiftUp isn't slowing down. Along with Stellar Blade 2, they are also working on Project Witches, a cross-platform game that adds to their reputation as a multi-IP powerhouse. Some developers, like Naughty Dog, wait years between releases. ShiftUp, on the other hand, seems to be iterating quickly and growing quickly. It will be three years before Stellar Blade 2 comes out if it really does come out before 2027. That's very fast by today's standards.

At this rate, ShiftUp could become one of PlayStation's most valuable outside partners, even though they're not a first-party developer. In fact, Sony seems to care more about Stellar Blade than other recent exclusives like Rise of the Rōnin. The PC version of Rise of the Rōnin is being published by Koei Tecmo, while the PC version of Stellar Blade is being published by Sony, at least in the US. That shows how seriously they are taking this IP.

Stellar Blade 2 is set to come out before 2027, so there's a good chance it will be one of the first big games for the PlayStation 6. Cross-gen ports are likely to come out between PS5 and PS6, which is similar to what we've seen with other recent console changes.

A few people even think Stellar Blade might be added to Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch 2. It may sound impossible, but it has happened before. Sony just recently let LEGO Horizon be played on Nintendo systems. They have licensed IPs like Freedom Wars to other publishers in the past. Stellar Blade has also been seen to work on Steam Deck, so it may also work on Switch 2.

For now, that's just a guess, but the door isn't shut.

The rise of Stellar Blade is like a breath of fresh air in a generation where game development times are getting longer, IP fatigue is setting in, and first-party studios are becoming less willing to take risks. This bold and fast-moving project is getting a lot of attention in all the right places, from PC gamers to Sony itself.

Also, let's not forget how powerful modding groups can be. Even if modding isn't a big part of how the game is made, the social media attention that mods get will only make them more well-known. When they go viral, it's the best kind of free advertising.

There's no doubt that ShiftUp has made something real here, even if Stellar Blade 2 doesn't become the big hit that PlayStation needs. The new franchise has legs, style, and goals, and it's about to get much better.