Stellar Blade Developer Shift Up Gives All 311 Employees a PS5 Pro and a 5 Million Won Bonus

Shift Up, the South Korean developer behind the PlayStation 5 exclusive Stellar Blade, has generously rewarded its employees for their hard work with a PlayStation 5 Pro console and a cash bonus of 5 million won (approximately $3,400) for each of its 311 staff members.

A Banner Year for Shift Up

The eye-catching bonuses, first reported by South Korean outlet Naver, are part of the company’s efforts to motivate and recognize its workforce. Shift Up’s staff count stood at 311 as of the third quarter of 2023.

2024 has been a milestone year for the developer. Stellar Blade, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, launched exclusively on PS5 in April and achieved impressive sales, surpassing one million copies within just two months. Shift Up has since released updates and crossover DLC, including a notable collaboration with Nier: Automata.

In addition to the game’s success, Shift Up made headlines in July with its initial public offering (IPO). The company raised 435 billion won (around $320 million) on its first day of trading, marking the largest IPO for a South Korean gaming company since Krafton’s $3.8 billion IPO in 2021.

Financial Success of Stellar Blade

Shift Up’s financial reports reveal that Stellar Blade generated 25.8 billion won (approximately $18.5 million) in revenue during its launch quarter (April to June) and an additional 22.5 billion won (approximately $16.1 million) in the third quarter (July to September). This brings the game’s total revenue to 48.4 billion won (around $34.6 million) as of the end of September. Despite this, the company’s mobile action RPG Goddess of Victory: Nikke continues to outperform Stellar Blade, earning approximately $51.9 million over the same period.

Looking Ahead

The future looks bright for Shift Up. The developer has announced plans to bring Stellar Blade to PC in 2025, with hopes of matching or exceeding its PS5 sales, citing the success of Black Myth: Wukong on Steam as a benchmark.

Additionally, the company is developing a new multiplatform title, currently codenamed Project Witches, which is expected to release after 2027. Given the success of Stellar Blade, speculation about a potential sequel is already gaining traction.

With its continued financial growth and recognition of its employees’ contributions, Shift Up is positioning itself as a major player in the global gaming industry.