Key Takeaways
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- Stellar Blade, developed by Shift Up Studio, has achieved impressive sales of over 6.1 million units on PS5 and PC.
- The games DLC, Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, has reignited interest in Stellar Blade and led to a new activity peak.
- Shift Up CEO Hyungtae Kim emphasized the importance of AI adoption for competing in key industries and suggested that AI could empower individuals to manage tasks typically requiring a team of 100.
- The South Korean government, led by Minister Choi Hwiyoung, supports investment in AI for the gaming industry, with plans to provide financial assistance and facilitate the transition to AI technology. This support aims to strengthen South Koreas position on the global gaming stage.
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Triumphant Sales and AI Adoption Boost for Stellar Blade & NIKKE at Shift Up Studio
Shift Up Studio’s action title, Stellar Blade, released in April 2024 for PS5 and June 2025 for PC, has achieved impressive sales of over 6.1 million units. These figures, along with the game’s continued popularity, were highlighted in Sensor Tower’s global mobile market analysis from Korea in January 2026, which reported over 3.7 million PS5 copies and more than 2.1 million PC copies sold. The report further indicated that approximately 60% of Stellar Blade players are dedicated gamers. The title currently holds strong average ratings of 92 on Steam and 4.82 out of 5 on the PlayStation Store. Another Shift Up title, the DLC Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, reignited interest in Stellar Blade, leading to a new activity peak 14 months after its PS5 launch. Shift Up CEO Hyungtae Kim championed AI adoption during a national discussion on South Korea’s 2026 Economic Growth Strategy on January 9. Kim emphasized that mastering AI will be essential for competing with major players like China and the U.S. in key industries, and he does not foresee AI necessarily causing job losses. He suggested that AI could empower a single individual to manage tasks typically requiring a team of 100.
AI Investment Fuels Stellar Blade’s Global Ambitions in South Korea’s Gaming Industry
Korea’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Choi Hwiyoung, supports investment in AI for the gaming industry. The government plans to provide financial assistance to facilitate the transition to AI, with investments slated for 2026. Furthermore, several large gaming companies are developing programs to help smaller studios leverage AI technology for growth. Bolstered by its commercial success, positive reception, and its studio head’s forward-looking perspective on AI, Stellar Blade has the potential to inspire emerging Korean game studios as South Korea’s gaming industry seeks to strengthen its position on the global stage.
In Case You Missed It
In an exciting week for gaming news, Bruno Pferd unveiled on January 14th that Ubisoft’s upcoming Prince of Persia remake is heating up the sandbox with more than just shifting sands. His article “Prince of Persia Remake Features Sex Scenes” Prince of Persia Remake Features Sex Scenes reveals that this remake isn’t just about navigating platforms and avoiding traps; it includes brief but notable intimate scenes, adding a touch of romance to Prince Ali’s adventures. Meanwhile, Ahmed Hassan published on January 13th his insightful piece “Stellar Blade Developers Spoiled Again by Shift Up Management for Christmas” Stellar Blade Developers Spoiled Again by Shift Up Management for Christmas, Here Are the Bonuses Received. He delves into how Studio Shift Up treated its employees to extravagant bonuses and luxury Apple products, demonstrating their strategic approach to retain talent during heavy workloads on projects like Stellar Blade. Lastly, Carlos Mendoza’s January 13th post “Ubisoft Plans New Layoffs at Massive Entertainment, Makers of Avatar and The Division” Ubisoft Plans New Layoffs at Massive Entertainment, Makers of Avatar and The Division provides insight into Ubisoft’s strategic restructuring plans for Massive Entertainment, potentially impacting 55 jobs and shifting focus towards future Division titles. Stay updated with these latest gaming industry developments!
They also talk about it
Links to external sources for further reading
- Stellar Blade director goes all-in on AI as South Korea's games industry looks to compete on the global stageStellar Blade director goes all-in on AI as South Korea's games industry looks to compete on the global stageeurogamer.net
- https://www.thegamer.com/stellar-blade-ai-very-important-to-help-keep-up-with-china/https://www.thegamer.com/stellar-blade-ai-very-important-to-help-keep-up-with-china/thegamer.com
- Stellar Blade director says using AI will be essential for competing with overwhelming manpower of China and US developersStellar Blade director says using AI will be essential for competing with overwhelming manpower of China and US developersautomaton-media.com
- CoreGamerCoreGamercoregamer.net
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