Shift Up is gearing up for a busy 2026. According to Siliconera, the Korean studio has confirmed it will share news this year on both a Stellar Blade sequel and its mysterious new title, Project Spirits, alongside ongoing updates for mobile hit NIKKE and expanded merchandise offerings.
Stellar Blade launched in April 2024 as a PlayStation 5 exclusive and quickly built a devoted following thanks to its stylish action combat and striking visual design. The fact that a sequel is already in some stage of development - enough to warrant a news announcement this year - suggests Shift Up wasted little time capitalizing on that momentum.
Project Spirits enters the spotlight
Project Spirits is the more intriguing wildcard here. Details on the game remain scarce, but it represents Shift Up expanding beyond the world of Eve and into what appears to be a distinct new IP. Given the studio's track record with tight action gameplay and high production values, anticipation is already building among fans who followed the Stellar Blade launch closely.
It's worth noting that Shift Up is juggling a serious workload. NIKKE: Goddess of Victory continues to be a major live service earner for the company, and keeping that community engaged while simultaneously developing multiple premium titles is no small feat. The mention of merchandise alongside game news also signals that Shift Up is thinking about brand growth beyond just software.
What to watch for
With no specific event windows confirmed yet, it's unclear whether these announcements will land at a major showcase like The Game Awards or Sony's own PlayStation State of Play broadcasts. Given that Stellar Blade remains a PlayStation-adjacent property, a Sony-backed reveal for the sequel wouldn't be surprising.
2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for Shift Up as it transitions from a studio with one breakout console hit to a developer managing a full multi-title portfolio. Fans of the original Stellar Blade and anyone keeping tabs on new action game IPs will want to keep this one on their radar.
