SHIFT UP acquires Shinji Mikami-led studio UNBOUND

SHIFT UP has fully acquired UNBOUND, the new Tokyo-based game studio founded by Resident Evil creator and Devil May Cry producer Shinji Mikami in November 2022, the company announced.

UNBOUND is currently developing original console and PC-based intellectual properties targeting the global market.

Through the acquisition, SHIFT UP has integrated the UNBOUND development team and expanded its console and PC-based pipeline. It will also directly handle the publishing of UNBOUND’s upcoming titles and gradually build its own global service capabilities.

“I find it deeply meaningful to join forces with UNBOUND, which brings together a world-class development team led by CEO Shinji Mikami,” said SHIFT UP CEO Hyung-Tae Kim in a press release. “This acquisition will serve as an opportunity to deliver the best gaming experience to users worldwide and further solidify SHIFT UP’s global development competitiveness.”

UNBOUND CEO Shinji Mikami added, “I am very pleased to be partnering with SHIFT UP CEO Hyung-Tae Kim and all the employees. I sense strong synergy with CEO Kim, who is also an active creator, and I believe this is an ideal partnership that allows us to focus on creativity. We will do our best to create fun games so that both companies, working as one, can meet our fans’ expectations.”

Watch a video announcing the acquisition below, followed by a transcript. A blog post with further details is available here.

UNBOUND x SHIFT UP Announce Video

■ Transcript

Shinji Mikami, UNBOUND CEO

“I’m Mikami from UNBOUND. I’m the lead representative of this company. I’m also actively creating and producing a new game title here on-site.

“At UNBOUND we have many talented creators. And those creators aren’t constrained by pressure, or strict company orders. We keep rules to a minimum and create an environment that allows our creators to design the best games possible. I think you can expect a lot from us soon.”

Ryosuke Suzaki, Unbound Game Planner

“At UNBOUND, we can freely share ideas with everyone—like, ‘Let’s try this or that.’ Or you can ask someone one-on-one, ‘Can you listen to my game idea?’ If the idea is interesting, we can try to make it happen. That’s the kind of environment we have here.”

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

“It’s really easy to make games here. It’s fun, but it can also be very challenging. It’s both. There’s no such thing as a game company that isn’t tough. But because it’s tough, we make sure to have fun too.”

Tagami

“Having Mikami-san as a boss who looks out for us objectively, I’m really grateful. Always watching over us. No matter how freely we work, he’s there. I feel reassured.”

Mikami

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

Tagami

“He is someone that keeps up with the latest games that come out. Like, ‘Oh, he’s really keeping up with the times.’ I’m not sure if that’s the best way to put it.”

Mikami

“So even though I get joked with a lot, it creates a space where it’s easier to speak. And believe it or not, I actually really like that. Working with these genuinely young people is a lot of fun. It makes me excited to see the next generation creating new and exciting games. This is what I look forward to the most now.

“SHIFT UP and UNBOUND are joining forces. To speak to the strengths of this, for example They have GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE, or other titles like Stellar Blade. but the best part is Kim-san at SHIFT UP. He’s a creator too, working on-site and putting his all into making games. After speaking with him, we decided to aim for the same goals together.

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

Hyung Tae Kim, SHIFT UP CEO

“Hello everyone. I’m Hyung Tae Kim. We are SHIFT UP, the game development-focused company behind the games, GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE, and Stellar Blade. We’re happy to announce our partnership with Shinji Mikami and UNBOUND. I’m eager to fully support creating a title that showcases the studio’s unique charm, and I’m really looking forward to seeing it come to life.”

Mikami

“I’ve come to see my vision and ideals more clearly, and I don’t think I’ve ever been in a situation where, as a creator, our wavelengths and direction align this closely. So for as long as my career continues, I would really like to keep working together. And for the first time in a while, I’ll be fully involved on-site to work on a fairly large game, and I’m really looking forward to it. To all the gamers waiting for this, I hope you can wait just a little longer for its release. That’s how I feel. Thank you so much for everything. Thank you very much.”

Kim

“I look forward to working with you.”

Mikami

“Let’s work hard together.”