Shift Up, the studio behind the critically acclaimed action-adventure game Stellar Blade, rewarded its employees with substantial year-end bonuses. Each employee received a PlayStation 5 Pro and approximately $3,400. This generous gesture followed the game's remarkable success since its April 2024 release.
Stellar Blade, initially met with some controversy regarding its character design, ultimately achieved widespread popularity on the PS5. Its impressive 82 average score on OpenCritic, numerous awards, and nominations highlight its achievements. The game's fast-paced combat, striking art style, and captivating soundtrack have garnered significant praise, even prompting comparisons (though disputed by the director) to NieR: Automata by its creator, Yoko Taro.
The recent bonus announcement, shared via a heartwarming video on Twitter, showcased the company's appreciation for its approximately 300 employees. This follows Shift Up's highly successful July 2024 initial public offering (IPO) on the South Korean stock market, the second-largest of the year, raising $320 million.
The success of Stellar Blade continues to grow, fueled by several high-profile collaborations. A Nier: Automata crossover in November 2024 introduced new in-game items and costumes, and a future collaboration with Goddess of Victory: Nikke was announced in late December. A holiday event in mid-December further enhanced the game's appeal.
Initially a PlayStation 5 exclusive, Stellar Blade is slated for a PC release in 2025, a decision announced in June 2024 following the game's impressive one million PS5 unit sales within its first two months. Shift Up anticipates strong performance on the PC platform.
