Key Facts
- ✓ Shift Up gifted approximately 300 staff members a package worth around $4,000 each.
- ✓ The package includes Apple AirPods Max, an Apple Watch, and a cash bonus of roughly $3,400.
- ✓ The studio has a history of gifting items such as PS5 Pro, Nintendo Switch 2, and iPhone 14s.
- ✓ CEO Hyung-tae Kim received a Presidential Commendation at the Korean Content Awards.
Quick Summary
Shift Up, the developer behind the action RPG Stellar Blade, has distributed another significant bonus package to its entire workforce. The studio gifted approximately 300 employees a combination of premium electronics and cash, totaling around $4,000 per person.
This latest gesture reinforces the company's stated strategy of using financial incentives and high-value gifts to retain top talent within the competitive video game industry. The package includes:
The move is part of a broader pattern of generous compensation that the South Korean studio has maintained for several years.
The Latest Reward Package
Hyung-tae Kim's studio has once again demonstrated its commitment to employee satisfaction through substantial material rewards. According to reports, the studio distributed the latest package to its entire team of roughly 300 staff members. The total value of the package is estimated at $4,000 per employee.
The specific items included in this recent distribution are high-end consumer electronics manufactured by Apple. Employees received the Apple AirPods Max headphones and an Apple Watch. In addition to the hardware, staff were given a direct cash bonus of approximately $3,400. The studio has previously articulated that these bonuses serve a specific business purpose: to encourage and retain existing talent at the company.
"This Presidential Citation is thanks to the developers and fans who believed in and supported Shift Up."
— Hyung-tae Kim, CEO of Shift Up
A History of Generosity
The current bonus is not an isolated event but rather the latest installment in a long-running series of employee benefits. Shift Up has established a reputation for lavish gifts that align with major company milestones and calendar events.
Over the past few years, the studio's compensation strategy has included:
- 2025 (Previous Year): All staff received a PS5 Pro console and a cash bonus of 5 million won (approximately $3,400).
- June 2025: To celebrate Stellar Blade selling 3 million copies, employees were gifted a Nintendo Switch 2 each.
- 2024: Staff were given prepaid credit cards valued at approximately $6,800.
- 2023: The studio distributed iPhone 14s among other bonuses.
This consistent approach to rewarding staff highlights the studio's focus on maintaining a stable and motivated workforce.
Leadership Recognition and Future Projects
While the staff enjoys their rewards, Hyung-tae Kim, the CEO of Shift Up, has also received significant personal accolades. He was recently honored with the Presidential Commendation at the Korean Content Awards. This award recognized his specific contributions to the growth and competitiveness of the Korean games industry.
Kim's work on titles such as Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Stellar Blade was cited as the reason for the honor. Upon receiving the award, Kim stated, "This Presidential Citation is thanks to the developers and fans who believed in and supported Shift Up." He added, "We will continue to do our best to further promote the competitiveness of Korean games on the global stage."
The studio shows no signs of slowing down. Shift Up is currently in development on Stellar Blade 2. Additionally, the studio is working on a separate title known as Project Spirits, which is slated to be published by Level Infinite.
"We will continue to do our best to further promote the competitiveness of Korean games on the global stage."
— Hyung-tae Kim, CEO of Shift Up
