Shift Up, the studio behind Stellar Blade, has decided to part ways with its publishing partner Sony to focus on "high-quality self-publishing"

South Korean video game company Shift Up has revealed its intentions to handle the publication of Stellar Blade 2 independently.

The company, reflecting on Stellar Blade's performance since it was released in April 2024, informed investors about the ongoing progress of the sequel. The developer noted that its approach is shifting toward a "first-party service model" due to the stable sales of the original game.

The studio stated, "Starting with [Stellar Blade 2], we'll be adopting a first-party service approach." This shift is aimed at leading marketing strategies that emphasize the unique aspects of the intellectual property (IP), intending to convey the game's appeal to players more efficiently.

They continued to discuss formulating a comprehensive market entry approach that leverages the robust fanbase and enduring popularity of the first installment to enhance global reach from the outset.

The company concluded by expressing its commitment to "high-quality self-publishing."

"Armed with high-quality self-publishing capabilities, a strategy to boost sales, and a dedicated fanbase, we anticipate the new release will outperform its predecessor significantly," the company elaborated.

Additionally, Shift Up recently purchased Unbound, a fresh studio initiated by game industry veteran Shinji Mikami.