SHIFT UP acquires Shinji Mikami-led studio UNBOUND

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I was so excited to hear that SHIFT UP has bought UNBOUND, the game studio Shinji Mikami – the creator of Resident Evil and a producer on Devil May Cry – started up in Tokyo last November! It’s great news for fans like me.

UNBOUND is creating new game franchises for consoles and PCs, with plans to release them worldwide.

By acquiring UNBOUND, SHIFT UP has brought their development team on board and strengthened its ability to create games for consoles and PCs. SHIFT UP will now directly publish UNBOUND’s future games and is working to establish its own worldwide publishing and service network.

SHIFT UP CEO Hyung-Tae Kim announced the company is partnering with UNBOUND, a development team led by CEO Shinji Mikami. Kim stated this collaboration will allow SHIFT UP to create even better games for players around the world and strengthen its position as a leading global game developer.

UNBOUND CEO Shinji Mikami expressed his excitement about the partnership with SHIFT UP CEO Hyung-Tae Kim and their teams. He feels a strong creative connection with Kim and believes this collaboration will allow both companies to deliver fun and engaging games that fans will love. They’re committed to working together to meet those expectations.

You can watch a video about the acquisition below, and a transcript is also provided. For more information, check out this blog post.

UNBOUND x SHIFT UP Announce Video

■ Transcript

Shinji Mikami, UNBOUND CEO

Hi, I’m Mikami from UNBOUND. I’m the lead representative here, and I’m also working on developing a new game directly at the office.

UNBOUND is home to a lot of incredibly talented game developers. We believe in giving them the freedom to create without unnecessary restrictions or rigid rules. We keep things open and encourage our team to design the highest quality games they can. We’re excited about what we’ll be sharing with you all soon!

Ryosuke Suzaki, Unbound Game Planner

Working at UNBOUND is awesome because everyone’s really open to new ideas. We’re constantly bouncing things off each other – like, ‘Hey, what if we tried this?’ Or, if I have a game concept, I can easily chat with someone and get their thoughts. If it sounds promising, we actually try to make it a reality. It’s just a super collaborative and encouraging place to work.

Ryuki Tagami, Unbound Programmer

“It’s really free here, right? Everyone is treated equally.”

Mikami

“I place the most emphasis on the atmosphere.”

Sosuke Honda, Unbound Game Director

Creating games here is simple and enjoyable, though it definitely comes with its challenges. The industry is demanding, period – every game company faces difficulties. But we prioritize having fun, even amidst those challenges.

Tagami

I’m really thankful to have Mikami-san as my boss. He provides great oversight and support, always keeping an eye on things while still letting us work independently. It’s really reassuring to know he’s there.

Mikami

“Well, of course it’s reassuring when the person at the top is an idiot.”

Tagami

He always stays current with new video game releases. It’s a way of saying he’s up-to-date with what’s popular, though I’m not sure that’s the perfect description.

Mikami

Honestly, I get teased a lot, but it’s actually really cool because it makes me feel comfortable enough to just say what’s on my mind. I really enjoy working with these younger folks – it’s a blast! It seriously gets me hyped to see what the next generation of game developers comes up with. That’s what I’m most excited about these days.

Okay, so huge news! SHIFT UP and UNBOUND are teaming up, and honestly, it makes perfect sense. SHIFT UP already proved what they can do with games like GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE and Stellar Blade – they really know how to make a visually stunning and engaging game. But the biggest thing for me is Kim-san, the creator at SHIFT UP. He’s actually working on the project, hands-on, putting everything he’s got into it. After talking with him, we all agreed on a shared vision and are aiming for something really special together.

“In other words, at UNBOUND, we’re going to create a masterpiece of a game.”

Hyung Tae Kim, SHIFT UP CEO

Hi everyone, I’m Hyung Tae Kim from SHIFT UP, the game studio behind GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE and Stellar Blade. We’re excited to announce we’re partnering with Shinji Mikami and UNBOUND. I’m committed to helping create a game that really highlights UNBOUND’s special style, and I can’t wait to see it finished.

Mikami

I now have a much clearer idea of what I want to create, and I’ve never worked with a team that shares my vision so perfectly. I’m eager to continue collaborating with them for the rest of my career. I’m excited to be fully dedicated to working on a big new game, and I’m really looking forward to it. To the players who are waiting, I hope you can be a little patient – it’ll be worth it! Thank you all for your continued support.

Kim

“I look forward to working with you.”

Mikami

“Let’s work hard together.”

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2026-04-01 05:32