Stellar Blade: Blood Rain has officially been announced at Summer Game Fest, and SHIFT UP is taking the franchise in a bold new direction.
Stellar Blade
Release Date: June 12, 2025
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
The reveal trailer introduced a new protagonist, Evie, while showing off slick combat, cinematic action, and a darker urban setting.
TL;DR – What was announced?
- Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is the next game in SHIFT UP’s action-adventure franchise.
- The game stars a new protagonist named Evie.
- It is set in the same universe as Stellar Blade and continues beyond the original game’s events.
- The reveal trailer focused on fast combat, cyberpunk-style city environments, and cinematic action.
- No release date or release window has been confirmed yet.
Table of content
The first Stellar Blade: Blood Rain trailer was one of the flashier reveals of Summer Game Fest 2026.
Instead of simply giving fans “more Eve,” SHIFT UP is expanding the world with a new lead, a new setting, and what looks like a heavier focus on close-quarters, hand-to-hand combat.
The sequel is being developed by the same team behind the original Stellar Blade, but this is not just a safe copy-paste follow-up. Blood Rain looks like it keeps the franchise’s stylish action DNA while pushing the series into a fresh chapter.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain Introduces Evie
The biggest change is right there in the reveal: Evie is the new protagonist. That is a major shift from the first game, which centered on Eve and her mission to reclaim Earth from the Naytiba.
Evie’s exact role in the story has not been fully explained yet, but the trailer makes it clear she is not just a cosmetic swap. Her fighting style looks more aggressive and physical, with more emphasis on fists, kicks, counters, and gauntlet-style attacks. She still appears to carry a blade for certain moves, but the overall vibe is very different from Eve’s sword-focused combat.
Worth Knowing: Blood Rain is set in the same universe as Stellar Blade, but it looks like SHIFT UP wants it to stand on its own. New hero, new city, new tone – same stylish action energy.
A New Setting, But the Same Stylish Combat DNA
The original Stellar Blade mixed post-apocalyptic ruins, sci-fi mystery, monster design, and high-speed action. Stellar Blade: Blood Rain seems to keep the sci-fi foundation, but the trailer leans harder into a dense urban setting with a moodier, more cyberpunk-style atmosphere.
Combat still looks like the main attraction. The reveal trailer showed Evie tearing through enemies with fast combos, dramatic dodges, heavy counters, and plenty of cinematic flair. In other words, if you played Stellar Blade mainly for the boss fights and stylish action, Blood Rain seems to understand the assignment.
Stellar Blade vs Stellar Blade: Blood Rain
Main protagonist
Stellar Blade: Eve.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain: Evie.
Story position
Stellar Blade: Original franchise entry.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain: Continues beyond the events of the first game.
Combat focus
Stellar Blade: Sword-based action with dodges, parries, and skills.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain: More hand-to-hand and gauntlet-style combat.
Setting
Stellar Blade: Post-apocalyptic sci-fi Earth.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain: Darker urban sci-fi environment.
Release info
Stellar Blade: Released in 2024.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain: No release date confirmed yet.
Is Stellar Blade: Blood Rain a Sequel?
Yes. SHIFT UP describes Stellar Blade: Blood Rain as the next chapter in the franchise. It is set in the same universe as Stellar Blade and continues the story beyond the first game, but with Evie stepping into the lead role.
That makes Blood Rain more than a spin-off tease. It looks like a proper continuation, even if SHIFT UP is clearly using it to evolve the series rather than simply retread the original.
Does Stellar Blade: Blood Rain Have a Release Date?
Not yet. Stellar Blade: Blood Rain does not currently have a confirmed release date or release window. SHIFT UP has also said the game is still in early development, so fans should probably not expect it to launch immediately.
That said, the trailer looked polished enough to get players talking. The safest expectation is that SHIFT UP will share more details once the team is ready to lock down platforms, gameplay systems, and a release target.
Why Fans Should Be Excited
A Fresh Lead
Evie gives SHIFT UP room to explore new story angles, new relationships, and a different kind of action hero without abandoning the Stellar Blade universe.
Combat Evolution
Blood Rain appears to move beyond swordplay with punchier melee combat, giving the sequel a different rhythm while keeping the stylish action intact.
Bigger World-Building
The new city setting suggests SHIFT UP wants to expand the franchise’s lore, not just deliver another monster-filled corridor of stylish fights.
FAQ
What is Stellar Blade: Blood Rain?
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is the next game in SHIFT UP’s Stellar Blade franchise. It continues the story beyond the first game and introduces Evie as a new protagonist.
Who is Evie in Stellar Blade: Blood Rain?
Evie is the new lead character shown in the reveal trailer. SHIFT UP has not fully explained her story yet, but she appears to use a more melee-heavy fighting style than Eve.
Is Eve returning in Stellar Blade: Blood Rain?
SHIFT UP has not confirmed Eve’s role in Blood Rain yet. For now, the reveal is focused on Evie and the new direction of the sequel.
When does Stellar Blade: Blood Rain release?
There is no confirmed release date or release window at the moment.
Is Stellar Blade: Blood Rain still in early development?
Yes. SHIFT UP has described the project as still being in early development, with more details planned for later.
Final Thoughts
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is not the safest sequel SHIFT UP could have made – and that is exactly why it is interesting. A new protagonist, a new combat flavor, and a new urban direction could help the franchise grow beyond its first breakout hit.
There is still a lot we do not know, including the release date and full platform list. But as a first look, Blood Rain did its job: it made the future of Stellar Blade look fast, violent, stylish, and very worth watching.