Shift Up to Self-Publish Stellar Blade 2, Bypassing Sony for PC

Stellar Blade developer Shift Up is transitioning to self-publishing with the upcoming Stellar Blade 2, moving away from Sony. The studio aims to enhance its marketing strategies and directly engage with players.

Shift Up announced in its recent earnings report that Stellar Blade 2 will not be published by Sony, signaling a shift towards self-publishing. The studio expressed confidence in the game's development progress, assuring fans of meeting quality standards. This move allows Shift Up to adopt a first-party service model, enabling tailored marketing efforts that highlight the unique Stellar Blade IP.

Moreover, Shift Up teased details on another project, Project Spirits, set to be unveiled later this year. The decision to self-publish Stellar Blade 2 follows the success of the first game, which initially launched as a PS5 exclusive before expanding to PC. The PC version notably outperformed the PS5 release, selling one million units within three days and amassing 6.1 million copies sold by January 2026, with a significant player base in China.