Kim Hyung-tae, the CEO of Shift Up and director of the hit action game Stellar Blade, has been honored with a Presidential Commendation at the 2025 Korea Content Awards. This rare recognition, hosted by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, highlights the significant impact Korean games are making on the global market. Kim was specifically recognized for his contributions through successful titles like Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Stellar Blade, both of which have elevated the international visibility of Korean intellectual properties.

Record-Breaking Success of Stellar Blade

The citation follows a year of massive commercial and critical success for Stellar Blade. Since its initial launch on PlayStation 5 in April 2024, the game sold over one million copies in just two months. Its subsequent PC release in June 2025 was even more explosive, selling over one million copies in only three days. The title now holds the record for the best-selling PlayStation-exclusive launch IP on PC in terms of peak concurrent users, surpassing major titles like God of War and Marvel’s Spider-Man. To date, the game has reached three million copies sold across all platforms.

Hyung-Tae Kim and a sample of his design

Future Plans for Shift Up

During his acceptance speech, Kim expressed his gratitude to the developers and fans who supported Shift Up, vowing to continue promoting the competitiveness of Korean games worldwide. The studio is already capitalizing on its success, with a sequel to Stellar Blade currently in development. Additionally, Shift Up is working on a new title, Project Spirits, which will be published by Level Infinite. The company’s financial growth has been equally impressive, with its 2024 IPO being the largest for a Korean gaming firm since Krafton in 2021.