ShiftUp CEO awarded presidential recognition for enhancing South Korea’s gaming industry with Stellar Blade and Nikke

ShiftUp CEO awarded presidential recognition for enhancing South Korea's gaming industry with Stellar Blade and Nikke

ShiftUp’s CEO, Hyung-tae Kim, was honored with the Presidential Commendation at the recent Korean Content Awards, recognizing his significant contributions to the nation’s video game sector. This accolade particularly highlights the impact of their games, Stellar Blade and Goddess of Victory: Nikke.

In his acceptance speech, Kim expressed his gratitude: “This Presidential Citation is a reflection of the trust and support from our developers and fans at Shift Up. We are committed to enhancing the global presence of Korean games.”

The Presidential Commendation is one of South Korea’s highest honors, awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the country’s development in various fields. ShiftUp has been widely recognized for its pivotal role in advancing the South Korean video game industry, especially due to its recent successes.

Stellar Blade has garnered significant attention, achieving impressive sales during its initial console launch and upon its later release on PC, where it set new records among comparable titles. Following the success of the first installment, ShiftUp is actively developing a sequel.

On the other hand, Goddess of Victory: Nikke stands out as a mobile gacha shooter that recently exceeded $1 billion in revenue during a Valentine’s event earlier this year. The game has also featured exciting crossovers from popular franchises, including Stellar Blade, Nier Automata, and Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Additionally, a port of Stellar Blade for the upcoming Switch 2 is reportedly in the works. While there is no official timeline for new announcements regarding the series, the sequel aims for a 2026 release as mentioned in an investor presentation, suggesting that updates may be forthcoming soon.