Stellar Blade Follow-Up Blood Rain Announced, Trailer Has Some Eye-Opening Moments
This year’s Summer Games Fest brought a surprise in the form of a reveal of the next game from Stellar Blade developer Shift Up, much sooner than expected. The game, Stellar Blade: Blood Rain, looks to continue on the high-octane action delivered by the highly popular 2024 game. Fans of the original are in for a treat with this new installment, which promises to expand on the intense combat and futuristic world-building that made the first game a hit.
The game was revealed in a highly stylized and action-packed trailer, showing a new protagonist exploring a dystopian cyberpunk world while fighting grotesque monsters with Stellar Blade’s signature stylish flair. While the first game focused on swords as its main form of offense and defense, Blood Rain seems more melee-focused, with the new playable character throwing around some fisticuffs. One of the more eye-opening moments in the trailer is a gratuitous scene where the protagonist removes her jacket to showcase the game’s jiggle physics, highlighting the attention to detail in character animation and movement.
Shift Up’s New Direction for the Stellar Blade IP
Developer Shift Up has confirmed that Blood Rain is in “early development,” and while the first game was PS5 exclusive, this entry will not be as exclusive. The game will not be published by Sony, and Shift Up “will transition to a first-party service model.” This move is expected to allow the studio to lead marketing strategies that fully reflect the distinctive identity of the Stellar Blade IP. The company also mentioned that this approach will help them communicate the unique appeal of the Stellar Blade universe to players more directly and effectively.
What to Expect from Blood Rain
While Blood Rain is still in early development, the Stellar Blade series has already established itself as a standout in the action genre. For some idea of what to expect, readers can check out our review of the first Stellar Blade, which delved into the game’s intense combat, immersive world, and memorable characters. With Blood Rain, fans can look forward to a continuation of that legacy, with new gameplay mechanics, a fresh protagonist, and a more open approach to publishing and marketing.
