Shift UP CEO Hyung-Tae Kim has opened up about the troubled early days of Stellar Blade, revealing that the studio nearly ran out of money while developing the game. Speaking to Korean gaming outlet Inven, translated via Google Translate, Kim described a period when the company could only afford to pay salaries for about three months.
“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.”
Investors Doubted the Game
Kim said the studio visited various investors to secure financial support during development. He found the response consistently cold. Many investors questioned why Shift UP was making the game at all, since “it was obvious it would not break even.” Some investors went further, telling Kim that if the studio pursued a different project, the company would be valued more highly.
Kim admitted he had his own doubts at the time. “There were times when I questioned whether it was truly right to make a game like this in Korea,” he said. “However, we somehow managed to develop it to the end, and it was the users’ choices that proved the path we had chosen was not wrong.”
A Sequel Is Coming
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is currently in development, though it has yet to receive a release date. The original game’s journey from near-collapse to blockbuster success makes that sequel feel like a natural next step for a studio that has already proven itself.
Sales Figures
Exact console figures remain unknown. However, Stellar Blade sold millions of copies on PS5 and later became a record-breaking release on PC, breaking 1 million sales within three days. Those numbers speak for themselves.
The Broader Korean Story
This is not the first Korean success in the triple-A space. Pearl Abyss found big success with Crimson Desert, which also sold exceptionally well. The games reflect a rising presence for South Korea in recent years.
The Numbers
- Sales: Millions on PS5; 1 million on PC within three days
- Sequel: Stellar Blade: Blood Rain — no release date yet
- Investor response: Told the project was too risky
- Salary runway: About three months
A Story of Perseverance
Kim’s account offers a window into the pressures smaller studios face when chasing ambitious projects.
The Verdict
Stellar Blade is a success now, but the road to that success nearly ended in disaster. Kim’s willingness to talk about those hard times is refreshing. Whether Blood Rain can repeat the magic remains to be seen. For now, the story of Stellar Blade‘s near-collapse stands as a reminder that success is rarely smooth.
Source material: “Stellar Blade is a success now but once came close to the brink: "We could only pay salaries for about three months",” Eurogamer.
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