Stellar Blade Sells 3M Copies, Sequel Promises Richer Story
▼ Summary
– Stellar Blade has sold over 3 million copies worldwide, and its sequel will feature a “serious” story, as confirmed by director Hyung-tae Kim.
– The original game’s story was scaled back due to high costs for cutscenes, leaving many unanswered questions about Eve’s world and frequent costume changes.
– Shift Up is currently focused on the PC port of Stellar Blade, with the sequel expected by 2027 at the earliest.
– The PC version of Stellar Blade became Sony’s biggest single-player Steam launch, peaking at over 192,000 concurrent players.
– IGN’s review scored Stellar Blade 7/10, praising its action gameplay but criticizing its story, characters, and some RPG mechanics.
Stellar Blade has surpassed 3 million copies sold globally, cementing its position as a breakout hit. Director Hyung-tae Kim recently confirmed plans for a sequel, promising a more substantial narrative to address criticisms of the first game’s storytelling.
During development, the team at Shift Up faced tough decisions regarding the game’s cinematic sequences. Kim revealed that while they crafted a deeper backstory for protagonist Eve and her world, budget constraints forced them to scale back on cutscenes. This left many plot points unexplained, including the infamous frequency of Eve’s outfit changes. Though the studio considered adding post-launch story expansions, Kim worried it might disrupt players’ existing understanding of the lore. Instead, the sequel will deliver a fully realized narrative experience from the start.
Fans shouldn’t expect the follow-up too soon, though. Shift Up is currently focused on optimizing the PC port, which launched on June 11 to record-breaking numbers. Stellar Blade became Sony’s highest-performing single-player Steam debut, peaking at over 192,000 concurrent players, far surpassing hits like Ghost of Tsushima and God of War. Only Helldivers 2, a multiplayer title, has achieved higher numbers among Sony’s PC releases.
The PC version boasts several enhancements, including Nvidia DLSS 4 and AMD FSR 3 upscaling, ultrawide monitor support, and DualSense controller integration for haptic feedback. Despite these technical triumphs, IGN’s 7/10 review highlighted weaknesses in character development and RPG mechanics, suggesting room for improvement in the sequel.
Kim estimates a 2027 release window for the next installment, emphasizing the team’s commitment to refining both gameplay and storytelling. For now, players can dive into the visually upgraded PC edition while awaiting deeper lore expansions in the franchise’s future.
(Source: IGN)
