Even though Sony is one of the major companies in the video game industry, it can’t keep up with the gigantic multinational corporations that have joined the industry recently. The constant, billion-dollar acquisitions based on very long-term plans are something that the Japanese can hardly afford or justify. But that doesn’t mean they’re not on the hunt for their own studios. It’s just that their acquisitions aren’t as flashy as those of other companies.
This has been demonstrated with their latest acquisition. Sony has announced that from now on, Shift Up will become the company’s first second-party studio in South Korea. And if Shift Up doesn’t ring a bell, creators of the upcoming Stellar Blade, previously known as Project EVE, we don’t blame you. It’s not a game that stands out by its name. Although we’re sure you’ll recognize it as soon as you see its trailer.
Stellar Blade is an action game with hack’n’slash elements reminiscent of classic titles in the genre like Bayonetta, Devil May Cry, or Nier Automata. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, players will confront robots and demonic entities in challenging and brutal combat, all within a visually stunning game. Developed exclusively for PlayStation 5, the game was originally announced in 2019 as Project Eve before later being renamed Stellar Blade, with a tentative release date of 2023.
As the year draws to a close, it’s clear that we’ll have to wait a bit longer to dive into this game on our consoles. However, with the signing of this agreement, it’s confirmed that Stellar Blade will be published and distributed worldwide by Sony, who will also handle its marketing and promotion. Therefore, it’s expected that regardless of its current status, Sony will aim to launch it to bolster their current lineup of first and second-party games for the upcoming year.
