Stellar Blade studio, Shift Up, has become one of the most celebrated in the game industry for its frequent practice of rewarding employees after successes. The game Stellar Blade was one of the biggest releases for PlayStation back in 2024.
With the release of the PC version of the game, Shift Up received a new wave of appreciation. According to a Korean news outlet, Seoul Economic Daily, the studio celebrated the New Year with a blast.
Shift Up reportedly gifted each of its employees with new Apple watches, new Apple AirPod Maxes, and a bonus of $3,400. At a time when most companies in the gaming industry are letting go of employees, this studio is setting a different example.
Shift Up is well known for treating employees with gifts
This is not the first time that Shift Up has demonstrated how it treats its employees. In 2023, the Company gifted their employees with new iPhones each and a bonus credit of $6,800. Similarly, in January of 2025, employees were showered with new PlayStation 5, which made headlines.
The same year in June, Shift Up celebrated the successful sales of Stellar Blade by gifting their employees with a brand new Nintendo Switch 2. It seems pretty apparent now that the company does not shy away from treating its employees as close family rather than having strict professional relations.
Incredible treatments have resulted in strong employee satisfaction, thus leading to long-term talent retention in the company, as was confirmed with Shift Up a while back. The accolades for Shift Up don’t just end with the employees.
The history of Shift Up and what to expect in the future
The CEO, Hyung-tae Kim, who is a well-recognized figure on social media as well as in the industry, won the Korean presidential commendation award for his contributions to the country’s video game industry.
Shift Up was founded in 2013 by Hyung-tae Kim and has so far proved their mettle as one of the largest companies in the country. They teamed up with Tencent under their global publishing IP to bring Goddess of Victory: Nikke on mobile platforms and PC.
It turned out to be one of the biggest mobile game releases for the company. But they found further success when they teamed up with PlayStation to bring Stellar Blade to the console. Firmly establishing their prowess and position among the greats of gaming.
Here’s to hoping Shift Up will continue to make a great example of themselves, around an industry that continues to treat employees with hostility. As fans, everyone is waiting to see their upcoming games, which include a sequel to Stellar Blade and the new IP, Project Spirits.
