Shift Up (2013)
Kim Hyung-tae's Artistic Vision, Global Hit Nikke, and Stellar Blade
Founded in 2013 by celebrated game art director Kim Hyung-tae (known for Magna Carta and Blade & Soul), Shift Up is an acclaimed South Korean studio. After international mobile successes Destiny Child and Goddess of Victory: Nikke, Shift Up made a landmark breakthrough into AAA single-player console development with the PlayStation 5 exclusive Stellar Blade (2024).
Artistic Leadership and the Nikke Triumph
Renowned for his distinctive aesthetic and dynamic character designs, Kim Hyung-tae founded Shift Up to merge cutting-edge 2D Spine animation with deep gameplay. In 2022, Goddess of Victory: Nikke was launched globally by Tencent's Level Infinite, surpassing $700 million in gross revenue within its first year.
Stellar Blade and Mainstream Console Acclaim
Aiming to diversify beyond the domestic mobile market into premium single-player console gaming, Shift Up developed Stellar Blade. Published globally by Sony Interactive Entertainment exclusively for PlayStation 5 in 2024, the title earned widespread praise for its parry-centric combat, fueling Shift Up's multi-billion dollar IPO in Seoul.