SHIFT UP's Stellar Blade achieved remarkable success at the 2024 Korea Game Awards, held on November 13th at the Busan Exhibition & Convention Center (BEXCO). The game secured an impressive seven awards, a testament to its exceptional quality.
Stellar Blade's Triumph at the 2024 Korea Game Awards
Future Grand Prize Ambitions for Stellar Blade's Director
Stellar Blade's accolades included the prestigious Excellence Award, along with top honors in Game Planning/Scenario, Graphics, Character Design, and Sound Design. The game also earned the Outstanding Developer Award and the Popular Game Award.
This marks the fifth Korea Game Award win for Stellar Blade's Director and SHIFT UP CEO, Kim Hyung-tae. His previous wins span several titles, showcasing a long and successful career in game development. His acceptance speech, as reported by Econovill, expressed gratitude to the team and highlighted the initial skepticism surrounding the development of a Korean-made console game.
While Stellar Blade narrowly missed the Grand Prize (awarded to Netmarble’s Solo Leveling: ARISE), Kim Hyung-tae assured fans of continued support and future updates, aiming for the Grand Prize in future iterations.
Below is a summary of the 2024 Korea Game Awards winners:
| Award | Awardee | Company |
|---|---|
| Grand Presidential Award | Solo Leveling: ARISE | Netmarble |
| Prime Minister Award | Stellar Blade (Excellence Award) | SHIFT UP |
| Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award (Best Game Award) | |
| Trickcal Re:VIVE | Epid Games |
| Lord Nine | Smilegate |
| The First Descendant | Nexon Games |
| Sports Shipbuilding President Award | |
| Stellar Blade (Best Planning/Scenario) | SHIFT UP |
| Stellar Blade (Best Sound Design) | |
| Electronic Times President Award | |
| Stellar Blade (Best Graphics) | |
| Stellar Blade (Best Character Design) | |
| Commendation from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism | |
| Hanwha Life Esports (eSports Development Award) | |
| Gyu-Cheol Kim (Achievement Award) | Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Award |
| Kim Hyung-Tae (Outstanding Developer Award) | SHIFT UP |
| Stellar Blade (Popular Game Award) | |
| Terminus: Zombie Survivors (Indie Game Award) | Longplay Studios |
| Korean Creative Content Agency President Award | ReLU Games (Startup Company Award) |
| Game Management Committee Chairperson Award | Smilegate Megaport (Proper Gaming Environment Creation Company Award) |
| Game Cultural Foundation Director Award | Uncover the Smoking Gun | ReLU Games |
While not nominated for the Golden Joystick Awards' Ultimate Game of the Year, Stellar Blade's future remains bright. A collaboration with NieR: Automata (November 20th) and a planned PC release in 2025 will significantly expand its reach. SHIFT UP's commitment to ongoing marketing and content updates further solidifies the game's potential for continued success. Stellar Blade's achievements represent a significant step forward for Korean AAA game development.
