Fundraising FoxSHIFT UP
Seoul, KR · 2 known investors
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SHIFT UP is a game design and development studio that handles the full production process, including game creation, promotional videos, and music, based on original illustration and planning and programming capabilities.
Also known as SHIFT UP · SHIFT UP Corporation · 시프트업
Investors · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026SHIFT UP is a Seoul-based game development company whose portfolio spans mobile and console titles. Its published games include the action-adventure RPG Stellar Blade, in which the last survivor of a special forces unit, Eve, fights alongside Adam to reclaim an Earth overrun by creatures called the Naytiba; the character-driven gun-shooting RPG GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE, in which players command combat androids to retake the surface from an unidentified force known as the Rapture; and the collection RPG Destiny Child. The company describes Project Spirit as its new flagship title, a subculture cross-platform game built around an "Eastern Fantasy" concept and a new IP following Stellar Blade and NIKKE.
The company is led by CEO Hyung-Tae Kim. Its corporate website carries an investor relations section covering corporate governance, financial information, share price and public disclosures, alongside recruitment and press-release areas. In 2026 SHIFT UP expanded beyond internal development into publishing, acquiring the Tokyo-based studio UNBOUND Inc. and stating it would publish UNBOUND's titles and progressively build its own global service capability.
Business model
SHIFT UP develops and operates its own game IP across mobile and console platforms, including the free-to-play character-collection titles GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE and Destiny Child and the premium console/PC title Stellar Blade. Following the UNBOUND acquisition, the company also intends to act as a publisher, directly handling publishing for the acquired studio's upcoming titles and building global service capabilities.
Traction
GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE returned to first place in Korean App Store revenue rankings after a summer 2026 update, and ranked second in Japan and Taiwan. Stellar Blade was confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2, with the Complete Edition's Switch 2 version given its first public playable demonstration at Tokyo Game Show, and a new title, Stellar Blade: Blood Rain, was unveiled at Summer Game Fest 2026.
Latest developments
In 2026 SHIFT UP completed the acquisition of all shares in Japanese developer UNBOUND Inc., the PC and console studio led by Shinji Mikami, integrating its development team and expanding its console and PC pipeline while taking on publishing duties for UNBOUND's original titles. The company also confirmed a Nintendo Switch 2 release for Stellar Blade, released a Switch 2 trailer and key art, showed the Stellar Blade Complete Edition Switch 2 version at Tokyo Game Show, revealed Stellar Blade: Blood Rain at Summer Game Fest 2026, and, together with NIKKE director Yoo Hyung-seok, donated a total of KRW 30 million to Save the Children.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography
Market position
SHIFT UP is described in coverage of the UNBOUND deal as a Korea-based developer whose new IPs, GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE and Stellar Blade, compete at a premium level and have established the company as a creator of character-driven titles. Its 2026 summer update for NIKKE reclaimed the number one grossing position on the Korean App Store and second position in Japan and Taiwan.
Technology
The studio's stated capability set covers the full production chain for a game — original illustration and design, planning, programming, promotional video and music production — applied across mobile, PC and console platforms, including cross-platform development for Project Spirit and a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Stellar Blade.
Go-to-market
Players of console and PC action titles and of mobile character-collection and gun-shooting RPGs, with demonstrated audiences in Korea, Japan and Taiwan and a stated global market focus.
Geography
Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, with a Tokyo-based development studio acquired in 2026 and titles distributed to global markets including Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
Compiled by commissioned research from 3 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 7
launches, deals, and filingsThe Nintendo Switch 2 version of Stellar Blade Complete Edition was given its first public playable demonstration at Tokyo Game Show.
SHIFT UP participated in SGF 2026 and unveiled Stellar Blade: Blood Rain for the first time.
GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE director Yoo Hyung-seok and SHIFT UP donated a combined KRW 30 million to Save the Children.
SHIFT UP announced it had completed the acquisition of Japanese game developer UNBOUND Inc., a PC and console development studio led by Shinji Mikami, by acquiring all of its shares. SHIFT UP said it would directly handle publishing for UNBOUND's upcoming titles and gradually build its own global service capabilities.
SHIFT UP announced a publishing partnership under which it will publish titles from the Tokyo-based studio UNBOUND Inc., supporting the team with global publishing resources as it develops original games.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 3
primary sources listed
- shiftup Venture Capitalshiftup.co.kr · web
3 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does SHIFT UP do?
- Korean game developer behind Stellar Blade and GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE, now also publishing third-party console titles.
- Who are SHIFT UP's investors?
- SHIFT UP's investors include IMM Investment Japan, Kakao Ventures.
- Where is SHIFT UP headquartered?
- SHIFT UP is headquartered in Seoul, KR.