Shift Up

Shift Up Corporation is a South Korean video game developer and publisher founded in December 2013 by illustrator and game artist Kim Hyung-tae. The company was established after Kim left NCSoft, where he had served as art director on Blade & Soul. Shift Up built its identity around visually distinctive, character-focused games, combining highly stylized illustration with mobile role-playing systems and, later, large-scale console action games. The company’s first major commercial project was Destiny Child, a mobile gacha role-playing game developed in cooperation with Next Floor, now associated with Line Games. Announced in 2015 and first released in South Korea in 2016, the game subsequently expanded to Japan and international markets. Shift Up later assumed responsibility for the Korean and overseas operation of Destiny Child, while establishing a Japanese subsidiary to manage the Japanese service. The title helped establish the company as a notable Korean mobile-game developer and created a foundation for its overseas publishing and live-service capabilities. In 2019, Shift Up presented two new projects at its Crank in Showcase event. Project Nikke was introduced as a mobile third-person shooter with online cooperative elements, while Project Eve was presented as a post-apocalyptic action role-playing game for personal computers and consoles. Project Nikke eventually became Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, a mobile game published internationally by Level Infinite, a Tencent subsidiary. It launched for Android and iOS in November 2022, followed by a Windows version in February 2023. NIKKE became one of Shift Up’s most commercially important properties and broadened the company’s international profile through its live-service model, character-collection mechanics, and science-fiction setting. Project Eve was later renamed Stellar Blade and repositioned as a PlayStation 5 console exclusive. Developed by Shift Up’s Second Eve Studio using Unreal Engine technology, the game launched in April 2024 as a science-fiction action title. Its strong sales performance in Japan and the United States increased Shift Up’s visibility beyond the mobile market. The company subsequently confirmed work on a Windows version and indicated that a sequel was under consideration. The Windows release arrived in June 2025 and reportedly passed one million copies sold during its first three days, bringing reported total sales above three million units. Shift Up has also developed and published projects through affiliated studios. In 2021, its subsidiary Studio VINO released a game based on the Korean web novel Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion for PC and mobile platforms. The company has maintained relationships with Line Games, Tencent, Sony, and other industry partners, while expanding its development organization. In 2023, most of its reported workforce consisted of developers, reflecting a strategy centered on internally controlled intellectual property and production capabilities. The company pursued a Korean public listing in 2024. Its initial public offering raised substantial capital and reduced the ownership percentages of founder Kim Hyung-tae and Tencent, although both remained major stakeholders. Shift Up’s business is principally associated with NIKKE and Stellar Blade, with future growth expected to come from additional premium and live-service projects. A new urban science-fiction action role-playing game, initially referred to as Project Witches and later as Project Spirits, has been reported as being planned for a future release. Shift Up therefore occupies a position between Korea’s mobile-service game sector and the global premium console market.

Shift Up Corporation was founded in December 2013 by Kim Hyung-tae after his departure from NCSoft, where he had worked as an art director on Blade & Soul. The new studio was built around Kim’s strengths in illustration, character design, and visual direction. Its early strategy combined internal game development with partnerships that could provide publishing, investment, and live-service support. In March 2014, Next Floor announced an investment agreement and strategic partnership with Shift Up. The companies worked together on a mobile game that was later named Destiny Child. Announced in December 2015 as a gacha role-playing game, Destiny Child debuted in South Korea for Android and iOS in October 2016. A Japanese release followed in November 2017, and an international release arrived in December 2018. The title gave Shift Up an early commercial foothold and helped establish its reputation for illustration-led character games. In 2018, Wemade Entertainment acquired a minority interest in Shift Up. The following year, Shift Up presented Project Eve and Project Nikke at its Crank in Showcase event. Project Eve was described as a large-scale post-apocalyptic action role-playing game for PC and consoles, while Project Nikke was introduced as a mobile third-person shooter. Shift Up also began taking greater control of its publishing and service operations. In October 2019, it announced that it would operate the Korean and overseas versions of Destiny Child, which had previously been handled by Line Games. Shift Up JP was established in Japan in February 2020 to support the Japanese market. The company expanded into adaptations in 2021 when Studio VINO, a Shift Up subsidiary, released a game based on Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion for PC and mobile devices. Shift Up also marketed limited-edition NFTs featuring artwork by Kim Hyung-tae in connection with the release. Although the project was distinct from the company’s original intellectual properties, it demonstrated the studio’s interest in licensing, transmedia properties, and digital collectibles. Project Nikke became Goddess of Victory: NIKKE. The game launched for Android and iOS in November 2022, with Level Infinite, a Tencent subsidiary, serving as its publisher. A Windows client followed in February 2023. NIKKE developed into a major international live-service property and became central to Shift Up’s business. In parallel, Project Eve was renamed Stellar Blade and announced as a PlayStation 5 exclusive. Developed by the company’s Second Eve Studio, the game represented a significant move from mobile production into premium console development. Ownership and strategic relationships changed during this period. In 2022, Kim Hyung-tae and other executives sold some shares to investment groups, while Tencent acquired a substantial position in Shift Up. In 2023, Tencent purchased shares previously held by Wemade, increasing its stake. Shift Up also entered into a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment and was reported to have become Sony’s first Korean second-party developer. By the end of 2023, the company had 292 employees, with developers accounting for most of the workforce. Stellar Blade was released in April 2024 and performed strongly in important markets. Shift Up disclosed that a Windows edition and a sequel were being considered, while also developing a new urban science-fiction action role-playing game initially called Project Witches and later Project Spirits. The company filed for a Korean stock-market listing in March 2024 and completed its IPO in July. The offering provided capital for expansion while reducing the relative ownership percentages of Kim and Tencent. The Windows version of Stellar Blade was released in June 2025. Reported sales exceeded one million copies within three days, and total sales were reported above three million units. Shift Up’s subsequent direction has centered on expanding its workforce, supporting NIKKE as a long-term service, extending Stellar Blade across platforms, and developing additional premium intellectual property. The company remains active as an independent Korean developer and publisher with major partnerships and institutional shareholders.

• 2025

  Stellar Blade released for Windows

  [1]Shift Upen.wikipedia.org

  The Windows port expanded the game’s platform availability and achieved strong reported early sales.

• 2024

  Shift Up completed its IPO

  [1]Shift Upen.wikipedia.org

  The company raised capital through a Korean public offering in July.

• 2024

  Stellar Blade released

  [1]Shift Upen.wikipedia.org

  Shift Up launched its first major premium console title for PlayStation 5.

• 2022

  Goddess of Victory: NIKKE launched

  [1]Shift Upen.wikipedia.org

  The mobile shooter launched internationally with Level Infinite as publisher.

• 2022

  Project Eve became Stellar Blade

  [1]Shift Upen.wikipedia.org

  Shift Up announced the final title and PlayStation 5 positioning of its premium action game.

• 2019

  Project Eve and Project Nikke were revealed

  [1]Shift Upen.wikipedia.org

  Shift Up introduced the projects that later became Stellar Blade and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE.

• 2016

  Destiny Child launched in South Korea

  [1]Shift Upen.wikipedia.org

  The company’s first major mobile title released for Android and iOS.

• 2014

  Strategic investment from Next Floor

  [1]Shift Upen.wikipedia.org

  Next Floor announced an investment and development partnership with Shift Up.

• 2013

  Shift Up was founded

  [1]Shift Upen.wikipedia.org

  Kim Hyung-tae established Shift Up in December after leaving NCSoft.

An art-led South Korean game developer and publisher combining highly stylized character design, mobile live-service expertise, and premium console action-game production.

• Mobile gacha role-playing game · 2016

  Destiny Child

  Destiny Child is a mobile character-collection role-playing game developed through Shift Up’s early partnership with Next Floor. It launched in South Korea in 2016, followed by Japan in 2017 and wider international markets in 2018. Shift Up later assumed operation of the Korean and overseas services, while creating a Japanese branch to support that market. The game is known for its illustrated cast, live-service structure, and gacha-based acquisition system.

• Mobile live-service third-person shooter · 2022

  Goddess of Victory: NIKKE

  Goddess of Victory: NIKKE is a science-fiction mobile third-person shooter built around collectible characters and a continuing live-service model. First revealed as Project Nikke in 2019, it launched for Android and iOS in November 2022 with Level Infinite as its international publisher. A Windows version followed in February 2023. NIKKE became one of Shift Up’s principal global properties and a major contributor to the company’s commercial profile.

• Premium action role-playing game · 2024

  Stellar Blade

  Stellar Blade is a post-apocalyptic action role-playing game developed by Shift Up’s Second Eve Studio. Originally announced as Project Eve, it was renamed in 2022 and released for PlayStation 5 in April 2024. The game marked Shift Up’s major entry into premium console development. A Windows version was released in 2025, and the company has indicated that a sequel was under consideration.

• Licensed web-novel adaptation · 2021

  Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion

  This game adaptation of a South Korean web novel was developed by Studio VINO, a Shift Up subsidiary. It was released for PC, Android, and iOS in 2021. The project extended Shift Up’s activity beyond original science-fiction and character-collection properties into licensed narrative adaptations.

• 2019Crank in Showcase

  South Korea · Global

  Shift Up held a media showcase to present Project Eve and Project Nikke, giving the company’s upcoming premium console and mobile projects an international-facing introduction.

  Outcome. Project Eve became Stellar Blade, while Project Nikke became Goddess of Victory: NIKKE.

  Source

• 2024

  Shift Up completed its public offeringOther

  Background

  The company filed for a Korean listing in March 2024 as it prepared to fund continued game development and organizational growth.

  Action taken

  Shift Up raised capital through an initial public offering in July.

  Aftermath

  The offering reduced the ownership percentages of Kim Hyung-tae and Tencent while leaving both as major stakeholders.

  Source

• 2022

  Project Eve was repositioned as Stellar BladeStrategy

  Background

  Project Eve had originally been announced as a multi-platform action role-playing game.

  Action taken

  Shift Up revealed the Stellar Blade name and announced a PlayStation 5 exclusive release strategy.

  Aftermath

  The project became the company’s principal premium console property and expanded its relationship with Sony.

  Source

• 2022

  Goddess of Victory: NIKKE entered global releaseProduct launch

  Background

  The project had been introduced in 2019 as Project Nikke and was developed as a mobile science-fiction shooter.

  Action taken

  Shift Up released NIKKE for Android and iOS with Level Infinite as international publisher, followed by a Windows client in 2023.

  Aftermath

  NIKKE became one of Shift Up’s leading global live-service games.

  Source

• 2019

  Shift Up assumed direct operation of Destiny Child servicesStrategy

  Background

  Line Games had previously handled the Korean and overseas operation of Destiny Child.

  Action taken

  Shift Up took over operation of the Korean and overseas versions and later established Shift Up JP for Japan.

  Aftermath

  The move gave Shift Up greater control over its live-service relationship with players and its international operating structure.

  Source

1. 1Shift Upen.wikipedia.org