Stellar Blade Developer Shift Up Rewards Entire Team With Another Massive Bonus Package
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Stellar Blade developer Shift Up continues its tradition of sharing success with staff by gifting every employee an Apple Watch, AirPods Max, and a $3,400 cash bonus.
When a studio launches a massive hit, the rewards usually flow straight to the top. Shift Up is taking a wildly different approach. According to a report by the South Economic Daily and highlighted by IGN South Africa, the South Korean developer behind Stellar Blade just gifted its entire staff of roughly 300 employees a hefty bonus package worth around $4,000 per person. Every team member received a pair of Apple AirPods Max, an Apple Watch, and a cash bonus equivalent to about $3,400.
This is not a one-off publicity stunt for the studio. Shift Up has built a solid track record of sharing its financial success directly with the people making the games. Last year, the team received PS5 Pro consoles alongside another $3,400 cash bonus. When Stellar Blade crossed the three million copies sold milestone, every employee got a Nintendo Switch 2. Going back further, the studio has handed out prepaid credit cards worth nearly $7,000 and the latest iPhones to keep morale high and retain top-tier talent in a competitive industry.
These repeated payouts stand in stark contrast to the widespread layoffs and crunch culture plaguing much of the traditional games industry lately. Shift Up leadership has made it clear that keeping employees happy and invested in the company is a priority. Meanwhile, studio CEO Hyung-tae Kim recently earned a Presidential Commendation at the Korean Content Awards for his work on Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Stellar Blade. When a studio treats its developers well and delivers commercial hits like Stellar Blade, everyone wins.
Tags: Stellar Blade, Shift Up, Industry News, Game Development, PlayStation
Original article: IGN South Africa