Shinji Mikami’s Unbound Studio Acquired by Stellar Blade Dev SHIFT UP
Stellar Blade developer SHIFT UP announced the full acquisition of UNBOUND, a Tokyo based game studio led by industry veteran Shinji Mikami, on March 31, 2026.
Shinji Mikami, who is widely known for creating the Resident Evil series and producing Devil May Cry, founded UNBOUND in November 2022.
The acquisition allows SHIFT UP to integrate the UNBOUND development team into its pipeline and expand its reach within the console and PC gaming markets.
SHIFT UP will take over publishing duties for all upcoming UNBOUND titles as the company builds its internal global service capabilities.
CEO Hyung Tae Kim stated on March 31, 2026, that joining forces with a world-class team led by Mikami is deeply meaningful for the company.
Mikami expressed that the partnership with Kim is ideal because both leaders are active creators who share a similar vision for game development.
The studio environment at UNBOUND is designed to minimize strict company orders and allow creators to design games without unnecessary pressure.
Mikami is currently involved on-site with the production of a new masterpiece and a fairly large game project.
SHIFT UP continues to build on its success following the release of Goddess of Victory: NIKKE and Stellar Blade.
An update provided on April 1, 2026, included a video transcript and a closer look at a creature from the upcoming project.
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