Shift Up, the studio acclaimed for developing the upcoming title Stellar Blade, has announced the acquisition of Unbound, the development studio founded by Shinji Mikami, the legendary creator of the Resident Evil series. This strategic merger is set to unite two teams with significant ambitions in the PC and console gaming sectors.
Unbound was established in Tokyo in November 2022 with the goal of creating original game franchises for a global audience. Following the acquisition, the studio’s development efforts will continue under the leadership of the South Korean gaming giant, Shift Up. This deal not only expands Shift Up’s development portfolio but also integrates a world-class team into its structure.
Hyung-Tae Kim, CEO of Shift Up, expressed his excitement about the acquisition:
“I believe it is extremely significant that we are joining forces with Unbound, which boasts a world-class development team led by Shinji Mikami. This acquisition will be an opportunity to provide the best experience to players worldwide and further strengthen Shift Up’s global competitiveness.”
Shinji Mikami also commented positively on the new partnership:
“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with Shift Up CEO Hyung-Tae Kim and all the company’s employees. I feel a strong synergy with Mr. Kim, who is also an active creator, and I believe this is an ideal partnership for us to focus on creativity. We will do our utmost to create excellent games that will allow both companies, acting as one, to meet the expectations of fans.”
For Mikami, this collaboration offers a unique chance to realize his new ideas more swiftly, while for Shift Up, it represents an invaluable opportunity to bring an industry legend and a crucial Japanese production base into its fold. Both companies are poised to leverage this synergy to deliver innovative and compelling gaming experiences to players around the globe.