South Korean Studio Shift Up Acquires Japanese Studio Unbound, Founded by Resident Evil Creator Shinji Mikami

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Amidst the flurry of April Fools’ Day announcements, South Korean studio Shift Up officially announced its acquisition of Unbound Studio, founded by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami. This acquisition pairs Mikami with Shift Up CEO Hyung-Tae Kim to develop a new AAA game for global audiences, furthering Shift Up’s ambition for international success. According to a press release and statements on Twitter, Shift Up views the acquisition of Unbound Studio—established in November 2022—as a strategic move to strengthen its position in the global market. Hyung-tae Kim stated, “I find it particularly significant to join forces with Unbound, which gathers a world-class development team led by Shinji Mikami,” adding, “This acquisition will allow us to offer the best gaming experience to users worldwide and further strengthen Shift Up’s global competitiveness in game development.” Mikami stated, “I am very happy to collaborate with Hyungtae Kim and the entire team at Shift Up,” and, “I see a strong synergy with Mr. Kim, who is also an active creator, and I believe this ideal partnership will allow us to focus on creativity.”

Acquisition of Unbound Studio by Shift Up Bolsters Global AAA Game Development with Mikami’s Team

The acquisition, finalized on April 1, 2026, brings Mikami and his team into Shift Up to create a new, large-scale original game. Shift Up will also take over publishing for Unbound’s future titles. This move provides Mikami’s team with significant resources, especially after Microsoft closed Tango Gameworks in 2023, prior to Krafton’s acquisition and reopening of the studio. Mikami confirmed his deep involvement in a new, major original game with Shift Up. This acquisition reflects a strong professional connection between Hyung-Tae Kim and Shinji Mikami. Shift Up, now a publicly traded company, aims to expand its capabilities beyond mobile games. The partnership offers mutual benefits: Unbound gains resources to realize its ambitions, while Shift Up secures the credibility and AAA experience needed to establish itself in the console and PC gaming markets. This acquisition should allow them to accelerate their expansion, produce more content, and innovate with a truly international perspective. This collaboration holds the potential to produce groundbreaking games that resonate with players worldwide.

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