11 hours ago
Stellar Blade dev gifts Switch 2 to staff as Nintendo port rumoured
A Switch 2 version of Stellar Blade is rumoured to be in development, as creator Shift Up celebrates the game's latest sales milestone.
According to the latest sales figures, Stellar Blade has surpassed three million copies sold, across PlayStation 5 and PC, since it launched in April last year.
The action game's success prompted Korean developer Shift Up to gift all 311 of its employees a PS5 Pro at the start of 2025, along with a cash bonus, and now the studio has handed out another console to celebrate its latest milestone.
As reported by Korean outlet Gameple, Shift Up has given a Nintendo Switch 2 to over 300 former and current staff, in what it describes as 'performance-based compensation'.
'Shift Up is creating an environment where employees can demonstrate their best abilities through performance-based compensation, and this Switch 2 payment is also part of our encouragement for excellent talents who have achieved outstanding results,' a Shift Up spokesperson told the outlet (via machine translation).
Many fans believe this Switch 2 celebration might be indicative of the studio's future plans. According to Korean outlet PlayForum, Shift Up has begun development on a Switch 2 version of Stellar Blade, as the studio looks to expand its reach to more platforms.
It's claimed the studio has received a Switch 2 development kit and has begun work on the title. Speaking to the outlet, a spokesperson for Shift Up said 'nothing has been confirmed regarding the development of the Nintendo Switch 2' – which isn't exactly a denial.
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⚪️Today, Shift Up gifted all its employees a Nintendo Switch 2 to celebrate #StellarBlade surpassing 3M sales! ✨✨🎉Previously the company gave PS5s in 2021 and PS5 Pros in 2025 🎮🔹Shift Up keeps rewarding and cultivating what matters most: their people 🩶 — Stellar Blade/ NIKKE / Destiny Child/ 🙏 + 🎲 = 🍑 (@ShiftUpWorld) June 18, 2025
In Shift Up's recent financial report, the studio stated its intention to put Stellar Blade on more platforms. While they didn't name any specifically, and this was prior to the launch of the PC version, it's certainly possible this could relate to the Xbox Series X/S and Switch 2. More Trending
Stellar Blade launched as a PlayStation 5 exclusive, with the title being published by Sony. However, Shift Up owns the rights to the IP, so despite being funded by Sony, this means the title can jump to other platforms – much like how Death Stranding, a Sony-published title developed by Kojima Productions, was eventually released on Xbox.
However, if Shift Up does have a Switch 2 devkit, it's entirely possible the studio is cooking up another game for the console. Earlier this year, the team announced it was developing a new IP codenamed Project Spirits, which is set to be released in 2027 for PC and mobile.
While Stellar Blade is a graphically demanding title, other current gen games are also coming out for the console – albeit with visual downgrades. Ubisoft is set to release a Switch 2 version of Star Wars Outlaws in September, for example.
A potential Switch 2 version could feature additional extras, after the game's director, Kim Hyung-tae, recently admitted that they had to cut story sequences during development.
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