Shift Up, the creative force behind the highly anticipated game Stellar Blade, is already setting its sights on its next venture. While fans eagerly await the release of Stellar Blade, the developer is ramping up efforts to embark on another ambitious project.
The South Korean studio, established in 2013, initially made a mark in the gaming industry with mobile titles. Destiny Child, a gacha RPG launched in 2016 for Android and iOS, garnered considerable success for Shift Up. Building on this triumph, Destiny Child: Defence War, a mobile title featuring strategic RPG elements, followed suit in 2020. However, Shift Up’s upcoming endeavour marks a significant departure from its mobile gaming roots. Stellar Blade, an ARPG with a mature rating exclusive to the PlayStation 5 platform, showcases the studio’s evolution.
Recent job listings from Shift Up hint at the company’s forward-thinking approach. These listings, brought to light by GamingBolt, shed light on Shift Up’s preparations for its next major project. While specifics remain shrouded in mystery, the new game is poised to share resemblances with Stellar Blade. According to machine translations of job descriptions, the upcoming title is envisioned as an action RPG set in an “urban sci-fi” milieu, featuring monstrous adversaries.
Moreover, akin to Stellar Blade’s technological backbone, Shift Up’s next venture is slated to utilise Epic’s Unreal Engine. While Stellar Blade utilises Unreal Engine 4, speculation suggests that the new project may harness the updated iteration, released in April 2022. Described in several job listings as a “AAA” endeavour, Shift Up’s forthcoming game is anticipated to target a broad audience, potentially spanning consoles and PC. This aligns with the skill set sought in candidates, with proficiency in both PC and console development highlighted in job postings.
Despite Stellar Blade’s status as a PS5 exclusive, this was not always the plan. Shift Up’s collaboration with Sony materialised in 2021, following former SIE Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida’s endorsement of the Stellar Blade prototype. This partnership paved the way for Sony’s publication of the game.
Shift Up’s next project is expected to fall under the purview of Second EVE Studio, the company’s subsidiary dedicated to crafting high-budget console games. This subsidiary was established in tandem with Stellar Blade’s development, signifying a strategic shift towards console gaming for the studio. As the countdown to Stellar Blade’s release on April 26 commences, anticipation mounts amongst gaming enthusiasts. The demo, available for download since March 29 on the PlayStation Store, has garnered favourable feedback from the community.
As the gaming landscape evolves, Shift Up’s proactive approach underscores its commitment to innovation and diversification. With Stellar Blade poised to make its mark on the gaming industry, attention now turns to the studio’s future endeavours, promising further excitement and innovation for gaming enthusiasts worldwide.
