Chinese conglomerate Tencent have acquired a 20% stake in SHIFT UP, the Korean game development studio behind titles such as Stellar Blade and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE.
Following the stake acquisition, Tencent is now the second largest shareholder in SHIFT UP behind studio founder Kim Hyung Tae. The two companies have already worked together for quite some time through Level Infinite, the Tencent publishing subsidiary. Level Infinite is the global publisher of Goddess of Victory: NIKKE for Android and iOS (Thanks, Gematsu).
In Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, players control various maidens in a “sci-fi RPG shooter” with dynamic controls and vivid, high-quality visuals. Command and collect girls known as NIKKES to protect humanity and defeat invading forces. The game has surpassed over 10 million downloads worldwide since the global launch on November 4, 2022.
Stellar Blade is a post-apocalyptic action game by SHIFT UP with publishing by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation 5. The game is currently slated for a 2023 launch.
Lastly, here’s an overview of Stellar Blade via our prior coverage:
The meaning of Stellar Blade
The title is a combination of “Stellar,” which signifies stars in Latin, and “Blade,” which defines Eve’s existence.
Where the point of that blade will lead you to, that’s entirely up to you.
Mankind’s last remaining city on Earth, Xion
Eve and her comrades land on the surface to reclaim the extinct Earth and cross paths with a survivor named Adam. Eve is then led by Adam to the last surviving city, Xion, where she meets the elder of the town Orcal and is told many stories. In order to serve her mission to save Earth, Eve develops close relationships with the key members of Xion and contributes to rebuilding the city.
On a mission to save Earth from the NA:tive, Eve is also faced with helping out the citizens of Xion. Whether you will help the survivors or not, depends purely on your decision as the player.
Action-packed battles against fierce bosses
Stellar Blade introduces action combat that require deflecting and evading the NA:tives’ attack at a precise timing that will also connect to combos and unique skills. Throughout the game, you will arm yourself with unique Beta Skills and intense Burst Skills, which I promise will be pleasing to the eye.
Brace yourselves… Bosses’ strengths are on a completely different level compared to the common NA:tives, offering a challenging and strategic combat encounter.
All these actions will allow you to further immerse yourself into the story and understand Eve’s emotions.
Get ready to embark on a journey with our powerful protagonist, Eve!
