Shift Up provided unusually large rewards to all employees, supported by solid performance from its key intellectual property (IP) titles, Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Stellar Blade. The move is seen as intended to share last year’s results with employees and encourage them.

Industry sources said on Monday that Shift Up gave its more than 300 employees high-priced electronic devices, including Apple AirPods Max and Apple Watch, along with 5 million won in encouragement money at a company kickoff ceremony held the previous day. The reward follows last year’s success of Goddess of Victory: Nikke and console title Stellar Blade, which drove an upward trend in the company’s performance.

Shift Up has secured financial stability by recording consistently high operating profit margins since CEO Kim Hyung-tae founded the company. In 2024, its first year listed on the KOSPI, it posted revenue of 219.9 billion won and operating profit of 148.6 billion won, achieving an operating profit margin of 67.6%. The growth continued through last year, with third-quarter revenue and operating profit up 30.1% and 39.3%, respectively, from a year earlier.

The company has provided employees with ongoing in-kind and cash rewards based on such profits. In 2023, it gave iPhone 14 devices and encouragement money, and for its 10th anniversary it provided credit cards loaded with 10 million won. It also gave PlayStation 5 Pro consoles and 5 million won in bonuses early last year, and in May it strengthened its performance-based reward system by giving Nintendo Switch 2 consoles to mark Stellar Blade surpassing 3 million units sold.

Shift Up has begun developing its next lineup to sustain its current growth momentum. It is known to be developing a sequel to Stellar Blade and a new multi-platform title, Project Spirit.