Following the breakout success of Stellar Blade, developer Shift Up is rapidly expanding its portfolio, but a new report reveals that one of its upcoming titles is taking a significantly different development path. Project Spirits, a turn-based RPG directly inspired by the award-winning Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, is reportedly being primarily developed by external Chinese studios, with the core Korean team focused on the anticipated sequel to their hit action title.
From Stellar Blade to Turn-Based Tactics
Shift Up’s pivot from the character-action spectacle of Stellar Blade to the strategic, turn-based combat of Project Spirits marks a bold diversification. The inspiration is said to be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive’s 2024 title that captured Game of the Year honors and reinvigorated interest in thoughtful, turn-based mechanics within a narrative-rich framework. This shift indicates that Shift Up is looking to capitalize on proven market trends and established player appetites, leveraging the critical and commercial template set by Expedition 33.
The adoption of a turn-based system represents a fundamental change in design philosophy for the studio. Where Stellar Blade emphasized real-time reaction, precision parries, and fluid combo chains, Project Spirits will demand strategic planning, resource management, and positional awareness within its combat encounters. This move could be seen as an attempt to capture a different segment of the RPG audience, one that values tactical depth over twitch-based execution.
The Outsourcing Strategy for Project Spirits
A critical detail from the report is the extensive outsourcing of Project Spirits‘ development. According to sources, “almost everything is being handled by Chinese developers.” This is a notable strategy, as it allows Shift Up to simultaneously pursue multiple major projects without overextending its internal resources. The primary development team in Korea remains concentrated on the Stellar Blade sequel, which is expected to be a multiplatform release and a cornerstone of the studio’s future.
This bifurcated approach carries both advantages and risks. On one hand, it enables parallel development streams and potentially faster time-to-market for Project Spirits, which is reportedly targeting a 2027 release. It also allows Shift Up to tap into specialized talent pools in China’s robust game development sector, particularly for genres like turn-based RPGs and games implementing gacha mechanics. On the other hand, it raises questions about creative cohesion, consistent quality control, and the preservation of a unified studio vision across geographically and culturally separate teams.
Internal Sentiment and the Gacha Question
The report also suggests a lukewarm internal reception, noting that “those at Shift Up don’t seem to be enthusiastic about the project.” This perceived lack of internal passion could stem from the project’s external nature, its departure from the studio’s action-oriented roots, or the inclusion of potentially controversial gacha mechanics. Gacha systems, which involve randomized virtual item acquisition often tied to real-money transactions, are a polarizing element in modern gaming. While immensely profitable in certain markets and genres, they frequently draw criticism for fostering predatory monetization and compromising game balance.
The integration of gacha into a premium, narrative-driven turn-based RPG inspired by a title like Expedition 33 is a significant point of interest. It suggests Project Spirits may be attempting to hybridize a Western-style, story-focused RPG framework with Eastern mobile and live-service monetization strategies. How these elements are balanced will be crucial to its reception among core RPG fans who admired the purity of its stated inspiration.
The Shadow of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
The choice of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a direct inspiration is a telling one. Sandfall Interactive’s game was celebrated for its painterly art style, emotionally resonant story of a doomed expedition, and its innovative take on turn-based combat that felt both classic and fresh. For Project Spirits to invite such a comparison, it will need to deliver a comparable level of artistic cohesion and mechanical polish. The outsourcing model adds a layer of complexity to achieving this, as the original Expedition 33 was undoubtedly a product of a singular, focused creative vision.
Shift Up’s challenge will be to act as an effective creative director and quality gatekeeper for the external teams, ensuring that the inspiration evolves into a distinct product with its own identity, rather than a derivative facsimile. The success of this model could influence how other mid-sized studios approach portfolio expansion in an era of rising development costs and fierce competition for player attention.
Market Positioning and the 2027 Landscape
With a target release window of 2027, Project Spirits is entering a future market landscape that is difficult to predict. The turn-based RPG genre has seen a sustained resurgence, but player expectations for presentation, narrative depth, and post-launch support continue to escalate. By that time, the legacy of Expedition 33 will be well-established, and new benchmarks will likely have been set.
The game’s potential multiplatform nature—following the studio’s indicated strategy with the Stellar Blade sequel—would be a logical step to maximize reach. However, its gacha elements may align more closely with platforms and audiences accustomed to such systems, potentially creating a tension between its core RPG aspirations and its service-game monetization. Clear, early communication about its business model will be essential to manage player expectations.
A Studio at a Crossroads
Shift Up finds itself at a pivotal moment. Stellar Blade proved the studio could deliver a high-profile, polished action experience. Now, with Project Spirits and the Stellar Blade sequel in development, it is testing its ability to be a multi-franchise studio. The decision to outsource a major project represents a pragmatic, corporate growth strategy, but one that must be carefully managed to protect the studio’s reputation for quality earned with its debut title.
The true test will be whether Project Spirits can stand as a compelling game in its own right, worthy of the Expedition 33 inspiration it cites, or if it will be viewed as a sidelined, outsourced product lacking the heart of the studio’s primary work. The report of internal ambivalence is perhaps the most concerning detail, as passion and belief in a project are intangible yet critical ingredients for overcoming the immense challenges of game development.
As the industry watches, the development of Project Spirits will serve as a case study in modern studio scaling. It highlights the tensions between creative ambition and logistical reality, between cultivating a distinct house style and chasing market trends, and between internal development control and the practicalities of external partnership. The final product will reveal much about Shift Up’s evolving identity and its capacity to shepherd diverse visions to completion, whether from within its own walls or from across the sea.
