SHIFT UP Acquires Shinji Mikami’s UNBOUND Studio
Stellar Blade developer SHIFT UP has completed the full acquisition of UNBOUND, the Tokyo-based game studio founded by Resident Evil creator and Devil May Cry producer Shinji Mikami in November 2022, the company announced.
UNBOUND is currently focused on developing original intellectual properties for console and PC platforms, targeting a global audience.
The acquisition integrates UNBOUND’s development team into SHIFT UP’s pipeline, expanding the company’s capabilities in console and PC game development. SHIFT UP will also directly publish UNBOUND’s future titles and build its global service capabilities.
“I uncover it deeply meaningful to join forces with UNBOUND, which brings together a world-class development team led by CEO Shinji Mikami,” said SHIFT UP CEO Hyung-Tae Kim in a press release. “This acquisition will serve as an opportunity to deliver the best gaming experience to users worldwide and further solidify SHIFT UP’s global development competitiveness.”
Shinji Mikami, CEO of UNBOUND, added, “I am exceptionally pleased to be partnering with SHIFT UP CEO Hyung-Tae Kim and all the employees. I sense strong synergy with CEO Kim, who is also an active creator and I believe Here’s an ideal partnership that allows us to focus on creativity. We will do our best to create fun games so that both companies, working as one, can meet our fans’ expectations.”
A Culture of Creative Freedom at UNBOUND
According to a transcript released alongside the acquisition announcement, UNBOUND prioritizes a creative environment for its developers. Mikami emphasized minimizing constraints and fostering an atmosphere where creators can freely design games. Team members highlighted the open exchange of ideas and a supportive, egalitarian operate environment.
SHIFT UP’s portfolio includes GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE and Stellar Blade. The company’s CEO, Hyung Tae Kim, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting the shared creative vision between the two companies.
A brief video announcing the acquisition features a glimpse of a feathered creature, hinting at a potential project currently in development. A closer look at the creature was shared on Twitter.
This acquisition follows the successful launch of Stellar Blade, further establishing SHIFT UP as a key player in the console gaming market.
Shinji Mikami’s involvement brings a legacy of influential game design to SHIFT UP, spanning franchises like Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, and The Evil Within.
With both CEOs expressing a commitment to creative collaboration, the future projects resulting from this partnership are likely to draw significant attention from the gaming community. Will this synergy lead to a new genre-defining title, or a refinement of existing successful formulas?
