Shift Up, the developer behind the acclaimed action-adventure game Stellar Blade, recently rewarded its employees with a generous year-end bonus: a PlayStation 5 Pro and approximately $3,400 each. This significant gesture follows the game's remarkable success since its April 2024 launch.

Stellar Blade, initially met with some minor controversy regarding its character design, quickly became a critical and commercial triumph on the PS5. Its fast-paced combat, striking visuals, and memorable soundtrack garnered an average score of 82 on OpenCritic, along with numerous awards and nominations. The game's popularity continues to grow, fueled by several high-profile collaborations.

A heartwarming video shared on Twitter showcased Shift Up's over 300 employees receiving their PlayStation 5 Pros. The substantial cash bonus, according to company representatives, aims to incentivize and motivate the team for future projects. This generosity comes after Shift Up's highly successful July 2024 initial public offering (IPO), raising $320 million and becoming the second-largest in South Korea that year.

Stellar Blade's continued success is evident in its ongoing collaborations. A Nier: Automata crossover in November 2024 introduced new content, and a future collaboration with Goddess of Victory: Nikke is planned. A holiday event in December further enhanced the game with festive decorations, music, and costumes.

While initially a PlayStation 5 exclusive, Stellar Blade is slated for a PC release in 2025. This decision, announced in June 2024, reflects Shift Up's confidence in the game's potential on the PC platform, following its impressive one million PS5 unit sales within the first two months.