Shift UP CEO Reflects on Stellar Blade Development Challenges
- Shift UP CEO Hyung-Tae Kim revealed investor skepticism during Stellar Blade’s development.
- The company faced significant financial strain, at one point able to pay staff for only three months.
- Stellar Blade achieved success post-launch, selling millions on PS5 and over 1 million copies on PC within three days.
Hyung-Tae Kim, CEO of Shift UP, has discussed the significant challenges encountered during the development of the action game Stellar Blade. Among these were concerns from investors regarding the game’s potential to achieve profitability and a dwindling budget that limited staff salaries.
In an interview with Korean gaming outlet Inven, Kim disclosed, “During the development of Stellar Blade there was a time when the company was in a situation where it could only pay salaries for about three months.” This underscores the financial pressures faced by the company as it progressed with the game’s creation.
Kim explained that efforts to secure funding from various investors often met with resistance. Many expressed doubts about the game’s viability, questioning the rationale behind its development when “it was obvious it would not break even.” Some investors suggested that pursuing a different project could potentially enhance the company’s valuation.
Stellar Blade has since proven to be a commercial success. Although specific console sales figures remain undisclosed, it has been reported that the game sold millions of copies on PS5. Additionally, the PC version broke records by achieving over 1 million sales within just three days of its release. Shift UP is currently focused on developing a sequel titled Stellar Blade: Blood Rain, which does not yet have a confirmed release date.
This narrative highlights the increasing influence of South Korea within the AAA game development sector, with other studios like Pearl Abyss also experiencing significant successes, as seen with their title, Crimson Desert.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
