Shift Up, the developer behind the acclaimed action role-playing game Stellar Blade, has reported a financially record-breaking year. The game generated an impressive $43 million in royalties, contributing significantly to Shift Up's total revenue of $151.4 million in 2024, marking a 30.4% increase from the previous year.
According to Game World Observer, the financial success of Stellar Blade shows no signs of waning. Shift Up confidently anticipates that the upcoming PC version will surpass the sales of the original PlayStation 5 release, particularly in the Asian gaming market. This optimistic outlook underscores the game's enduring appeal and potential for further growth.
Looking ahead, Shift Up is set to unveil its next project, Project Witches, in the first half of 2025. Although Project Witches was announced shortly after the PS5 launch of Stellar Blade, it is not a sequel to the popular game. However, Shift Up has expressed interest in developing another installment in the Stellar Blade franchise, hinting at future expansions.
Stellar Blade places players in the shoes of Eve, who embarks on a mission to reclaim Earth from mysterious invaders through fast-paced combat. Despite receiving a 7/10 rating from IGN, which praised its action elements but critiqued its characters, story, and some RPG mechanics, the game quickly sold over a million copies, demonstrating its widespread popularity.
In IGN's review, they noted, "Stellar Blade is great in all of the most important ways for an action game, but dull characters, a lackluster story, and several frustrating elements of its RPG mechanics prevent it from soaring along with the best of the genre." This feedback highlights areas for improvement while acknowledging the game's strong foundation in action gameplay.