The CEO of Stellar Blade studio Shift Up has obtained the Presidential Commendation at this 12 months’s Korean Content material Awards for his work within the video games business.
In response to Daum, and reported by Automaton, Hyung-tae Kim accepted the award, which is reportedly “essentially the most prestigious content material awards ceremony in Korea” and hosted by the Ministry of Tradition, Sports activities, and Tourism. Kim was acknowledged for his contribution to the Korean video games business with the video games Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Stellar Blade.
“This Presidential Quotation is because of the builders and followers who believed in and supported Shift Up,” Kim mentioned. “We’ll proceed to do our greatest to additional promote the competitiveness of Korean video games on the worldwide stage.”
Stellar Blade launched in April 2024 solely on PlayStation 5. After promoting greater than 1 million copies in two months, Stellar Blade was seen as highlighting the potential for Korean-made triple-A console video games. In July final 12 months, Shift Up raised 435 billion gained (approx. $320 million) in its first day of commerce after an preliminary public providing. In response to Bloomberg, that was the biggest within the nation for a gaming firm since 2021, when PUBG maker Krafton Inc. raised $3.8 billion from its personal IPO. 2024 went so nicely for the corporate that it gifted all its workers a PlayStation 5 Professional in addition to a money bonus of 5 million gained (round. $3,400) final Christmas.
In the meantime, Stellar Blade did splendidly nicely on PC, the place it launched in June this 12 months. In response to the developer’s latest presentation to traders, Stellar Blade’s PC launch bought greater than 1 million copies in three days, and has been beneficial by 98% of its PC customers, boasting an “overwhelmingly optimistic” consumer rating on Steam.
Which means, Shift Up claimed, that Stellar Blade is now the “best-selling PlayStation-exclusive launch IP in historical past” on PC, eclipsing video games like Ghost of Tsushima, God of Struggle, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Daybreak, and The Final of Us in phrases of peak concurrent customers on Steam. Helldivers 2, of course, stays in pole place throughout each single and multiplayer video games, and by some appreciable margin, too, estimated to have bought 12.7 million copies.
Stellar Blade is now as much as 3 million copies bought throughout all platforms. Remember {that a} sequel, Stellar Blade 2, can be on the best way. Shift Up can be engaged on Mission Spirits, to be printed by Stage Infinite.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, in addition to a critic, columnist, and guide with 15+ years expertise working with some of the world’s largest gaming websites and publications. She’s additionally a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually Excessive Chaos. Discover her at BlueSky.