Shift Up is officially laying the groundwork for Stellar Blade 2, and this time, narrative takes center stage. In a recent interview with Korean outlet This Is Game, director Hyung-tae Kim revealed that one of the studio’s top priorities for the sequel is building a stronger and more immersive story—something they felt was lacking in the original due to production limitations.
According to Kim, many planned cutscenes in the first game were removed during development to save on costs. These missing scenes would have expanded character motivations and explained key narrative elements—like outfit changes—that felt abrupt in the final version. He acknowledged that cutting back on these elements hurt the storytelling, but it was a decision made for the sake of production efficiency.
From DLC to Full Sequel: Stellar Blade 2’s Ambitious Shift
Interestingly, Stellar Blade 2 didn’t start as a sequel. Initially conceptualized as a DLC expansion, the content quickly grew in scale and ambition. “When we started making DLC, the volume grew more than expected, so we changed direction and continued it as the next work,” Kim explained. That pivot turned what could’ve been a minor add-on into a full-fledged sequel.
Now backed by the commercial success of the original game—especially the strong reception of its PC version—Shift Up has the momentum and confidence to build a richer experience. Kim noted that the success gave them the green light to pursue a deeper narrative structure, one they believe fans will find far more engaging.
Development Still in Early Stages
Don’t expect Stellar Blade 2 to drop anytime soon, though. Right now, the team is still focused on wrapping up development of the first game’s PC version. The sequel remains in the early planning and concept stage, with much of the work revolving around creative vision and world-building direction.
That said, the commitment to delivering a story-driven sequel is clear. The team is aiming to elevate every narrative layer—from character arcs to world logic—making Stellar Blade 2 a more emotionally engaging experience.
