Shift Up, the developer behind the successful action-adventure game Stellar Blade, generously rewarded its employees with a PlayStation 5 Pro and a bonus of approximately $3,400 each. This substantial year-end bonus followed the game's remarkable performance since its April 2024 release.
Stellar Blade's popularity continues to soar, fueled by positive player and critic reception (averaging an 82 on OpenCritic) and several high-profile collaborations. Despite initial controversy, the game's fast-paced combat, striking art style, and captivating soundtrack have garnered significant praise. The game's success is further highlighted by its million-unit sales milestone within its first two months on the PS5. Even Nier creator Yoko Taro lauded the game (a claim subsequently denied by Stellar Blade's director).
The celebratory bonuses, distributed to Shift Up's 300+ employees, were announced via a heartwarming video on Twitter. The company representative stated the bonuses aimed to incentivize and motivate the team. This gesture follows Shift Up's impressive $320 million fundraising on the South Korean stock market in July 2024, marking the second-largest IPO of the year.
Ongoing collaborations, including a Nier: Automata crossover in November 2024 and a future collaboration with Goddess of Victory: Nikke, continue to drive player engagement. A holiday event in December further enhanced the game's appeal.
Looking ahead, a PC port of Stellar Blade is slated for release in 2025, a move anticipated to further boost the game's success, given Shift Up's confidence in its PC performance.
