Stellar Blade studio rewards employees with Apple watches, Airpods & 5 million won bonuses
(Courtesy : SHIFT UP)
SHIFT UP is celebrating the new year with its staff!
SHIFT UP corporation, the creators behind the smash hit, Stellar Blade, kicked off the 2026 celebration with their employees. According to Sedaily Korean website, the studio handed Apple Watches (Series 8+), AirPods Max, and a whopping 5 million KRW bonus (~$3,500 USD) to over 300 devs.
This is not the first time they have celebrated the success of the game and the studio with their employees. Let’s check out more details in this article.
Stellar Blade success & huge employee perks
Stellar Blade, which debuted as a PS5 exclusive in 2024, surpassed 3 million overall sales by gifting Switch 2s.
PC decline (June 2025): Fastest Korean Steam launch ever, 19x faster than PS5, creating record Q2 earnings (72% YoY growth, $47 million royalties). Fans have started to compare this franchise to the level of NeiR and how big it could become in the future.
The studio is also known for treating its employees with huge perks and bonuses. Here’s everything they have received, which is reported till now for the success of the game & studio:
| Year | Milestone | Gifts |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Company growth | iPhone 14 |
| 2024 | PS5 Launch Success | PS5 Pro + 5M Won |
| 2025 | 3M Sales/PC Hit | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| 2026 | Q2 Record Profits | Apple Watch + AirPods Max + 5M Won |
Also Read: Stellar Blade 2 goes multiplatform: Expect on Xbox & PC, plans for sequel & more
Conclusion
SHIFT UP is now looking forward to Stellar Blade 2, for which there is already mass hiring going on. This game will be a multiplatform title. The studio is also working on another game, Project Spirit, which is predicted to be a gacha game.
They are also constantly updating the new content for Goddess of Victory: NIKKE. As the studio grows bigger and achieves more success, you can expect to see some more gifts and bonuses given to the staff in the future as well.
FAQs
What did Shift Up gift employees in 2026?
Apple Watch Series 8+, AirPods Max, and 5M KRW (~$3,500) bonus to 300+ staff.
How well did Stellar Blade sell on PC?
1M copies in 3 days—19x faster than PS5, record Q2 profits.
Is Stellar Blade 2 PS5 exclusive?
No—multiplatform from launch, unlike the original’s timed deal.
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Mahaksh Chauhan is a passionate gaming journalist who loves for old-school RPGs and turn-based games. With a keen eye for storytelling and a deep understanding of game mechanics, Mahaksh brings an unique perspective to the world of gaming. Inspired by classics like Persona, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Skyrim, Mahaksh is dedicated in sharing the magic of games with readers. When not writing or gaming, Mahaksh can be found cheering on WWE superstars or watching his favourite Anime.