South Korean game studio Shift Up has rewarded its approximately 300 employees with high-value gifts to mark the new year and past successes. Each staff member received Apple AirPods Max headphones, an Apple Watch and a ₩5 million ($3,400) cash bonus, totaling more than $4,000 per person. This continues the studio's tradition of generous incentives to retain talent.
Shift Up, the Seoul-based developer known for Stellar Blade, has a history of substantial employee rewards following key milestones. As reported by Seoul Economic Daily, the latest gifts were distributed in early 2026 to celebrate the previous year's achievements. This package follows similar gestures: in January 2023, staff received iPhone 14 smartphones alongside other perks; the next year, prepaid credit cards loaded with ₩10 million ($6,800); in January 2025, a PlayStation 5 Pro console plus another ₩5 million bonus; and in June 2025, a Nintendo Switch 2 to honor the sale of 3 million copies of Stellar Blade.
The studio attributes these bonuses to efforts to encourage and retain talent, as explained in prior statements to South Korean media. Founded in 2013 by Kim Hyung Tae, who serves as CEO and board chairman, Shift Up went public in summer 2024 with South Korea's largest video game IPO in three years, raising ₩435 billion ($295 million). The proceeds are earmarked for expanding its game portfolio.
Recent developments include a November 2024 publishing deal with Tencent's Level Infinite for Project Spirits, a cross-platform title for PC, consoles and mobile. Level Infinite had earlier handled Goddess of Victory: Nikke, Shift Up's 2022 mobile and PC hit. The company also confirmed a Stellar Blade sequel, slated for release by the end of 2027, potentially ahead of Project Spirits per May financial disclosures.