Stellar Blade dev gives PS5 Pro Gifts and Bonuses to Employees

Shift Up, the South Korean studio behind the critically acclaimed PlayStation 5 exclusive Stellar Blade, has started 2025 by generously rewarding its employees. As part of its "Shift Up Rise Up" ceremony, the company gifted every team member a PlayStation 5 Pro and a monetary bonus totaling 5 million won (approximately $3,400). With over 300 employees on its roster, this gesture underscores the studio's gratitude and commitment to fostering talent.

Stellar Blade, Shift Up’s first console title, launched exclusively on PS5 in April 2024. Published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the action-packed game quickly gained momentum, selling over one million copies within two months of its release. While reviews were mixed, with IGN awarding it a 7/10 and praising its gameplay while critiquing its story and characters, Stellar Blade has since solidified its position as a fan favorite. Post-launch updates and collaborations, including crossover DLC with Nier: Automata, have kept players engaged and added further value to the game.

Stellar Blade is a 2024 action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity struggles to reclaim Earth from monstrous creatures called Naytibas. Players control Eve, a skilled warrior tasked with leading her squad in the fight to save humanity. Featuring intense combat that rewards precise timing for parries and counterattacks, the game utilizes the PlayStation 5's DualSense controller to enhance immersion. As players explore the devastated Earth, they engage in dynamic battles, scale walls, swing across obstacles, and uncover hidden rewards, all while forging alliances with survivors in Xion, humanity’s last bastion.

The game’s commercial success also contributed significantly to Shift Up’s financial performance. In its first two quarters after release, Stellar Blade generated approximately $34.6 million in revenue. This success was a key factor in Shift Up’s impressive initial public offering (IPO) in July 2024, which raised $320 million on its first day of trading—the largest gaming IPO in South Korea since 2021.

Looking ahead, Shift Up has confirmed plans to launch Stellar Blade on PC in 2025, anticipating strong sales on the platform. The company pointed to the success of titles like Black Myth: Wukong on Steam as an indicator of PC gaming’s potential.

In addition, Shift Up is working on an unannounced multiplatform project codenamed Project Witches, which is scheduled for release after 2027. With the ongoing popularity of Stellar Blade, speculation about a sequel is also growing.

Shift Up’s decision to gift its employees with PS5 Pros and monetary bonuses is a refreshing change in an industry often plagued by stories of layoffs and studio closures. A representative from the studio emphasized that these rewards are intended to motivate and encourage their talented workforce.