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 significant gesture follows the game's remarkable success since its April 2024 launch.

Stellar Blade, despite initial controversy, became a critical and commercial triumph on the PS5. Its average score of 82 on OpenCritic, coupled with numerous awards and nominations, highlights its fast-paced combat, stunning visuals, and captivating soundtrack. The game's popularity continues to grow, fueled by successful collaborations.

The company's Twitter announcement featured a heartwarming video showcasing employees receiving their PlayStation 5 Pros. All 300+ Shift Up employees received this bonus, along with the substantial cash reward. A company representative stated the bonuses aimed to incentivize and motivate the team. This generosity comes after 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 continued success is evident in its ongoing collaborations. A Nier: Automata crossover in November 2024 introduced new content, and a future collaboration with Goddess of Victory: Nikke is planned. 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. Shift Up announced this PC port in June 2024, anticipating strong performance on the platform, a prediction supported by the game's impressive one million PS5 unit sales within its first two months.