Stellar Blade's Triumph at the 2024 Korea Game Awards: Seven Awards and a Promise of More
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 a total of seven prestigious awards, including the Excellence Award, a testament to its exceptional achievements in game design and development.
The accolades spanned various categories, recognizing Stellar Blade's excellence in Game Planning/Scenario, Graphics, Character Design, and Sound Design. The game also received the Outstanding Developer Award and the Popular Game Award, solidifying its position as a leading title in the Korean gaming landscape.
This marks the fifth Korea Game Awards win for Stellar Blade's Director and SHIFT UP CEO, Kim Hyung-tae, highlighting his consistent contribution to award-winning games throughout his career. His previous wins include those for Magna Carta 2, The War of Genesis 3, Blade and Soul, and Goddess of Victory: Nikke.
Kim Hyung-tae expressed his gratitude in his acceptance speech, acknowledging the dedication of the team and industry professionals who contributed to Stellar Blade's success. He emphasized the initial skepticism surrounding the development of a Korean-made console game and celebrated the team's ability to overcome challenges and achieve significant recognition.
While Stellar Blade narrowly missed the Grand Prize, which went to Netmarble’s Solo Leveling: ARISE, the team at SHIFT UP remains focused on the future of the game. Kim Hyung-tae confirmed plans for substantial future updates, promising an even better game and aiming for the Grand Prize in future award ceremonies.
A complete list of 2024 Korea Game Awards winners is provided below:
| 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 |
Despite missing a Golden Joystick Awards nomination, Stellar Blade's future looks bright. A collaboration with NieR: Automata is set for November 20th, with a PC release planned for 2025. SHIFT UP's commitment to continued marketing and content updates promises to maintain the game's momentum and influence the future of Korean AAA game development.
