Stellar Blade Studio Rewards Employees with Bonuses and PS5 Pro Consoles

Shift Up, the developer behind the acclaimed action-adventure game Stellar Blade, recently rewarded its employees with a generous year-end bonus: a PlayStation 5 Pro and approximately $3,400. This substantial gift follows the game's remarkable success since its April 2024 launch.

Stellar Blade's popularity continues to soar, fueled by positive player and critic reviews (averaging an 82 on OpenCritic) and several high-profile collaborations. Despite initial controversy, the game's fast-paced combat, striking art style, and memorable soundtrack have garnered significant praise. The game's success is further evidenced by its numerous awards and nominations, and even drew a comparison to NieR: Automata from its creator, Yoko Taro – a claim subsequently refuted by Stellar Blade's director.

The celebratory bonuses, highlighted in a heartwarming video shared on Shift Up's Twitter, underscore the company's appreciation for its over 300 employees. The sizable bonus aims to incentivize and motivate the team for future projects. This gesture comes on the heels of Shift Up's highly successful July 2024 initial public offering (IPO), the second-largest in South Korea that year, raising $320 million.

Stellar Blade's momentum shows no signs of slowing. Recent collaborations, including a Nier: Automata crossover in November 2024 and a future partnership with Goddess of Victory: Nikke, have kept the game in the spotlight. A holiday-themed update in mid-December added festive decorations, music, and costumes.

Further expanding the game's reach, a PC port of Stellar Blade is slated for release in 2025. This decision, announced in June 2024, followed the game's impressive sales figures – one million PS5 units sold within its first two months. Shift Up anticipates strong performance on the PC platform.