Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is the next game in Shift Up’s action series, but it is not simply called Stellar Blade 2. The sequel was announced during Summer Game Fest 2026, with Shift Up confirming it directly continues the series’ story.
There is no release date or release window for Stellar Blade: Blood Rain yet. Shift Up has not announced platforms either, and the game is still early in development, but the devs have already confirmed lots of details.
We’ll keep updating this article as more info is revealed.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain’s release date
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain does not have a release date. Shift Up has only confirmed that the game is in development, and the announcement did not include a year, season, or launch window.
Shift Up’s CEO, Kim Hyung-tae, confirmed that the game has been in development for a year, and most of the original team is working hard on the sequel and allowed them to make great progress fast. But while some journalists even had an opportunity to play the early build, it’s still a way off.
During the investor calls, 2027 was mentioned as the target for the next game’s release, but it’s unlikely for Stellar Blade: Blood Rain to come out next year.
What platforms is Stellar Blade: Blood Rain on?
Shift Up has not announced any platforms for Stellar Blade: Blood Rain. The first Stellar Blade was published by PlayStation Studios, so it launched on PS5 first and was later ported to PC.
Blood Rain is being self-published by Shift Up, and Kim Hyung-tae is on record saying that he wants the game to reach as big an audience as possible. Expect the platforms to be announced as soon as the company has agreed with the stakeholders.
Is Stellar Blade: Blood Rain a sequel?
Yes, Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is the next Stellar Blade game and a sequel to the original. It takes place in the same universe, an unspecified amount of time after the original.
It’s not called Stellar Blade 2 for a specific reason: Kim Hyung-tae says that the team aims to deliver a story that can stand on its own and will be as good an entry point into the series as the original game, and that “Stellar Blade” in the title is a sufficient common denominator.
This gives Shift Up room to keep the world and continuity while building a game that can stand apart from Eve’s first story.
But Kim Hyung-tae also said that the fans of the original game will be pleased as well, as they will learn the fate of many well-loved characters.
Where does Stellar Blade: Blood Rain’s story take place?
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain moves away from the first game’s ruined Earth landscapes and into a dense futuristic city. It’s unknown whether this is where the Mother Sphere is located, if this is Earth well into the future, or even some other habitable planet.
The developers confirmed to have taken inspiration from Hong Kong, and some Japanese and Korean cities. Kim Hyung-tae says that he wants the city to feel as much a character as Evie or anyone else.
It’s currently unknown if there will be any other locations outside the city.
Who is the new protagonist in Stellar Blade: Blood Rain?
The new protagonist is Evie, and she replaces Eve as the main playable character, though the similar name is not accidental, and Shift Up has already hinted that there is a connection between the two characters.
Evie was made smaller and younger than Eve because the developers found the idea of a smaller character engaging in hand-to-hand combat appealing.
She will also have a more pronounced personality than Eve, because when developing the original, the devs were undecided on whether to make her a fully-fledged character or a blank slate.
What is the story of Stellar Blade: Blood Rain?
At this point, Shift Up has not revealed the full story of Stellar Blade: Blood Rain. The studio has only confirmed that it is part of the same franchise, follows Evie, and is set in the same universe as Stellar Blade. It will also have a deep connection to the original game, but the devs have not revealed the nature of it.
During one of the interviews after the release of the original game, Kim Hyung-tae said that the developers knew that the story was the weakest part of Stellar Blade due to them not having enough time to flesh it out completely. This is something that the developers promised to focus on for the sequel.
The game will touch upon the topics of transhumanism and AI sentience on a much deeper level than the original, but Kim Hyung-tae says that the primary goal is to make a fun game, so the studio will not push for any kind of social commentary.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain’s gameplay changes
The main gameplay change in Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is that it now focuses on CQC rather than sword action, and everything, even the proportions of the main playable character, serves this change.
The sequel will also put more emphasis on movement through an urban space. The game’s city setting gives Shift Up more room for vertical movement, tight spaces, and close-range fights than the first game’s larger open zones, so the devs are paying special attention to make these fights engaging.
Even the camera angles during the fights were adapted so that it’s easier to see what you’re doing while also having full coverage of the enemies and their moves.
The game will also feature gigantic monsters like the original, despite being set in an urban environment and constrained spaces.
Kim Hyung-tae also promises that Stellar Blade: Blood Rain will not be easier than Stellar Blade. However, he does want to make it more accessible to a wider range of players, so it will include the Easy Mode on release rather than having it added later, like with the original Stellar Blade.
FAQs
Q: Is Stellar Blade: Blood Rain a sequel?
A: Yes, Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is the next game in the Stellar Blade series. Shift Up confirmed that it’s the next chapter in the franchise, set in the same universe and continuing the events of the first game.
Q: Who is Evie in Stellar Blade: Blood Rain?
A: Evie is the new main character in Stellar Blade: Blood Rain. She replaces Eve as the lead and fights with a different style, focused more on close-quarters combat.
Q: Does Stellar Blade: Blood Rain have a release date?
A: No, Stellar Blade: Blood Rain does not have a release date or release window yet. Shift Up has confirmed the game is in development, but the date has not been announced.
Q: What platforms is Stellar Blade: Blood Rain on?
A: Shift Up has not confirmed platforms for Stellar Blade: Blood Rain, but the developers want to bring it to as many people as they can.
Q: Is Stellar Blade: Blood Rain open world?
A: Shift Up has not confirmed whether Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is open-world.
Q: Will there be costumes in Stellar Blade: Blood Rain?
A: Developers promise an even wider variety of costumes.
Q: Is Shift Up using AI during the development?
A: Kim Hyung-tae has previously mentioned that the company needs to use AI to keep up with Chinese and Western developers, but Shift Up has not yet revealed whether any of the tools were used for Stellar Blade: Blood Rain.
