“We’re so thrilled with our success, we had to share it with our team.” Shift Up has gone above and beyond this Christmas, gifting its 300 employees with PS5 Pro consoles and generous bonuses.

Shift Up has been part of the gaming industry since 2016, but its first project, Destiny Child, only laid the groundwork for the studio’s future. The real breakthrough came in 2024 with Stellar Blade, a sci-fi hack and slash game that brought international recognition to the South Korean team. Following its spectacular debut last April, and while fans await a PC version or potential expansion content, the studio’s management has rewarded its team with PS5 Pro consoles and 5 million won bonuses, equivalent to approximately €3,400 per employee.

At an event held last week, Shift Up announced that all 300 employees received these gifts as part of their year-end bonuses. According to a representative speaking to the South Korean outlet Naver, this gesture aims to recognize the talent within the studio and boost morale across the team.

This isn’t the first time Shift Up’s leadership has made such a gesture. Back in 2021, when Stellar Blade was still known as Project EVE, and its release date was uncertain, CEO Hyung-tae Kim gifted 260 PS5 consoles to his team. Now, four years later, with an even larger staff, the company has repeated this generous act, which has become more common in recent years. For instance, last summer, several Chinese companies gave employees free copies of Black Myth: Wukong and time off to play, fostering a sense of national pride.

Stellar Blade Expanding to PC

Until now, Stellar Blade has been exclusive to PlayStation 5, but its success has solidified Shift Up’s place as a prominent player in the gaming industry. The South Korean team is now looking to expand beyond PS5. While no release date has been set, Shift Up recently confirmed that a PC version is in the works. This move capitalizes on the growing demand for AAA titles on platforms like Steam, especially following the success of games like Black Myth: Wukong.

Source: 3DJuegos