Shift Up, the creative team responsible for the popular action-adventure game Stellar Blade, surprised all of its staff with a generous year-end bonus of approximately $3,400 and a PlayStation 5 Pro. Launched in April 2024, Stellar Blade quickly became a fan favorite, receiving rave reviews from both gamers and critics
Following some initial debate about the protagonist’s fashion choices, Stellar Blade launched on the PS5 in April 2024 and quickly became a hit. It boasts an average OpenCritic score of 82 and has garnered numerous awards and nominations, with players praising its exhilarating combat, artistic design, and memorable soundtrack. Yoko Taro, known for creating Nier, even remarked that this game surpasses NieR: Automata, a statement that Stellar Blade’s director has firmly contested. The talented team behind the game was recently celebrated for their dedication, receiving generous bonuses in recognition of the title’s ongoing success.
Shift Up recently shared a delightful video on Twitter showcasing its team joyfully collecting complimentary PlayStation 5 Pros. With a workforce of just over 300, every employee received one of Sony’s latest consoles as a well-deserved end-of-year reward for their dedication. Additionally, each staff member will be granted a bonus of approximately $3,400. A company representative mentioned that these generous bonuses are intended to motivate employees for the future. In July 2024, it was revealed that Shift Up had successfully raised $320 million on South Korea’s stock market before its trading debut, marking it as the second-largest public offering in the country for the year.
Shift Up Gifts All Employees a PlayStation 5 Pro and Around $3,400
As the game continues to gain popularity, recent collaborations have been in the spotlight. November 2024 saw the release of the Stellar Blade’s Nier: Automata DLC, which offered players new items and costumes. In late December, it was announced that Stellar Blade would partner with Goddess of Victory: Nikke in the future, but no specific timeline or details were shared. Furthermore, a holiday-themed event was introduced in mid-December, enhancing the city of Xion with festive decorations, new music tracks, and costumes for Eve and Adam.
Stellar Blade, originally launched as a PlayStation 5 exclusive, is set to make its way to PC in 2025, although a specific release date hasn’t been announced yet. In June 2024, Shift Up mentioned they were exploring the possibility of a PC version, expressing confidence that the game would perform exceptionally well on that platform. The PS5 version achieved impressive sales, reaching one million units within just two months of its release