Stellar Blade 2 may launch on Xbox and Switch 2 — and that’s actually great news

Why this matters: Stellar Blade 2 could launch on Xbox Series and Switch 2

Stellar Blade 2 might not be a PlayStation-only affair anymore. That change would do more than widen sales – it could redefine how Shift Up approaches scope, technology and audience expectations for the franchise. This caught my attention because Stellar Blade’s first entry launched as a PS5 exclusive in April 2024, then proved it could find a second life on PC after a June 2025 port. Now a job posting and financial hints from Shift Up suggest the studio is seriously planning a multiplatform launch that includes PC, PlayStation, Xbox Series X/S and – notably – the Nintendo Switch 2, targeting a release before 2027.

• Shift Up appears to be eyeing a simultaneous or near-simultaneous multi-platform launch for Stellar Blade 2.
• Evidence comes from a public job listing and recent financial commentary — not an official announcement yet.
• Sales numbers (over 3 million copies total, ~1 million on PC after the port) give Shift Up both incentive and leverage to expand platform reach.
• Target window: before 2027, which likely means late 2026 at the earliest.

What changed since the first game

The original Stellar Blade released exclusively on PS5 and earned praise for its combat and presentation (we gave it 17/20). But exclusivity limits growth. The PC port in June 2025 pushed the total install base past the 3 million mark — roughly a million of those were PC players — and that’s the clearest reason Shift Up is reconsidering platform strategy. When a port dramatically increases sales and exposure, studios learn fast: more platforms = more longevity, more revenue to fund bigger teams and riskier design choices.

Why this matters to Xbox and Switch 2 owners

If Shift Up follows through, Xbox Series players who were locked out of the first game would no longer be second-class fans of the franchise. The same goes for early adopters of the Switch 2 — a platform that historically trades raw power for portability and a different audience. A cross-platform launch means day-one access instead of waiting months or years for ports, which changes the conversation around multiplayer, community buzz, and modding scenes (on PC at least).

That said, practical questions remain: can the studio ship a version of Stellar Blade 2 that runs well on Switch 2 without heavy compromises? Will Xbox and Nintendo versions be true day-one builds or delayed ports? Job listings can indicate intention, but they’re not contracts. Publishers still balance cost, exclusivity deals and technical trade-offs.

What Shift Up stands to gain — and what to watch out for

Going multiplatform broadens revenue and reduces single-platform risk. More revenue can fund larger levels, more enemies, and new systems — everything players actually notice and appreciate. The studio’s financial comments hint at an “expanded universe” and improved gameplay, which could mean bigger hubs, deeper combat layers, or more RPG elements.

On the flip side, expanding to more platforms can dilute quality if the team stretches too thin or chases simultaneous parity. There’s also the ever-present risk of added monetization strategies to recoup larger development and porting costs. I’ll be keeping an eye on whether Shift Up hires for cross-platform engineering and QA — those hires will tell us whether they intend native versions or lightweight ports.

Why now — industry context

The industry is in a post-exclusivity phase for many third-party studios: timed exclusives and platform-first launches still happen, but the appetite for simultaneous multi-platform releases is growing. PC ports that sell well act as proof points. With next-gen consoles stabilized and Switch 2 on the horizon, it’s sensible for a mid-sized studio like Shift Up to push for broader availability while investing earned revenue back into the franchise.

What’s still uncertain

• Nothing official yet — this is based on job postings and financial hints.
• Exact platforms at launch, performance targets, and whether the Switch 2 version will be scaled or native are open questions.
• Release timing is fuzzy — “before 2027” suggests end of 2026 but could slip.

Until Shift Up confirms dates and platforms, treat this as an encouraging sign, not a promise. But given Stellar Blade’s commercial bump from the PC port, a strategic pivot to multi-platform launch for Stellar Blade 2 feels likely — and for players on Xbox and Switch 2 who missed the first game, that’s the genuinely good news here.

TL;DR

Shift Up’s hiring and financial signals suggest Stellar Blade 2 will aim for PS5, PC, Xbox Series and Switch 2 before 2027. It’s not official yet, but the PC port’s success makes a multiplatform launch both logical and good news for Xbox and Switch 2 players — provided the studio doesn’t spread itself too thin.