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[ToneyJ]

- SHIFT UP secures "Resident Evil" Visionary Shinji Mikami and his newly founded studio

- SHIFT UP to strengthen the company's global PC and console publishing capabilities with UNBOUND's upcoming titles.

(April 1, 2026) SHIFT UP (CEO Hyung-Tae Kim) announced that it has completed the acquisition of Japanese game developer UNBOUND Inc. by acquiring all of its shares.

UNBOUND is a PC and console game development studio led by Shinji Mikami, who is known for his work on global hits such as the ＜Resident Evil＞ series, ＜Devil May Cry＞, ＜The Evil Within＞ series, and ＜Okami＞, and a team of veteran developers. The team bring together those with acclaimed experience both in and outside of Japan, attracting significant attention from the global gaming industry.

Currently, UNBOUND is developing original PC and console-based IPs targeting the global market.

Through this acquisition, SHIFT UP has successfully integrated world-class development talent and expanded its new PC and console-based pipeline. Furthermore, the company plans to directly handle the publishing of UNBOUND's upcoming titles and gradually build its own global service capabilities.

SHIFT UP CEO Hyung-Tae Kim stated, "I find it deeply meaningful to join forces with UNBOUND, which brings together a world-class development team led by CEO Shinji Mikami," adding, "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."

Shinji Mikami, CEO of UNBOUND, said, "I am very pleased to be partnering with SHIFT UP CEO Hyung-Tae Kim and all the employees." He continued, "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."

Meanwhile, SHIFT UP has released a branding video detailing this acquisition on its official YouTube channel for a global audience. The video features CEO Shinji Mikami's philosophy for game development and CEO Hyung-Tae Kim's vision for collaboration, heightening anticipation among global gaming fans.

 

[Generic]

Ughhh...

 

[TGO]

This could be good...
Holy shit I just saw the Pronouns

 

[nial]

huh... there it is

 

[BennyBlanco]

Mikami game with Shift Up budget and technical prowess sounds good to me. I don't love Stellar Blade but it looks and runs great. Also glad Mikami didn't just retire and is giving it another shot in earnest. He's one of the GOATs.

 

[ToneyJ]

This could be good...

yeah the potential here is great. If they go big with a AAA horror game, could do really well. Shift Up seem to have a good handle on tech + budgeting and are just an all around cool company.

 

[Bitstream]

Things just got interesting. This is gonna be good.

 

[//DEVIL//]

More power to them. They will produce good games. As long as it's not one of the big 3 companies and tencent, I am good

 

[Tobimacoss]

Good, Shift Up is in strong position now to publish games themselves. Be like Pearl Abyss.

 

[consoul]

I love this for Mikami.
With the support of ShiftUp he can keep spinning gold instead of disappearing into a (well earned) retirement.

 

[Pataponpon]

Hopefully we get a few hack n slash games from this, and some experimental action like Vanquish too

 

[BennyBlanco]

I want a Godhand spiritual successor

 

[Gonzito]

April's fool?

 

[mrqs]

This guy knows how to make money, huh?

 

[consoul]

April's fool?

I'll chop off my head if it is.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

Yoko Taro needs to join Shift Up, it's bound to happen.

Anyway, April fools and all that.

 

[Pataponpon]

Yoko Taro needs to join Shift Up, it's bound to happen.

Anyway, April fools and all that.

You know, I always thought the 3rd Nier would be made by Shift Up with a collab of Yokotaro, I wonder if this is still possible.

 

[ssringo]

Certainly interested in what they can release.

Now, are pronouns random or am I automatically conforming to societal norms?

 

[Pasta la Vista]

Please dont be an April Fool's joke, that would just be cruel.

 

[ToneyJ]

Please dont be an April Fool's joke, that would just be cruel.

It seems real, there's no punchline or joke in any of the vids or announcements.

 

[EDMIX]

buddy couldn't last 2 minutes without being acquired lol

Went from "Unbound" to "Bound" lol

 

[NanaMiku]

This guy knows how to make money, huh?

Costume in Nikke is about $60. They have a lot of money

Will Mikami make this game to be a true?

 

[ReBurn]

I'll chop off my head if it is.

I'll help

 

[Vyse]

April's fool?

My thought.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

- SHIFT UP secures "Resident Evil" Visionary Shinji Mikami and his newly founded studio

- SHIFT UP to strengthen the company's global PC and console publishing capabilities with UNBOUND's upcoming titles.

(April 1, 2026) SHIFT UP (CEO Hyung-Tae Kim) announced that it has completed the acquisition of Japanese game developer UNBOUND Inc. by acquiring all of its shares.

UNBOUND is a PC and console game development studio led by Shinji Mikami, who is known for his work on global hits such as the ＜Resident Evil＞ series, ＜Devil May Cry＞, ＜The Evil Within＞ series, and ＜Okami＞, and a team of veteran developers. The team bring together those with acclaimed experience both in and outside of Japan, attracting significant attention from the global gaming industry.

Currently, UNBOUND is developing original PC and console-based IPs targeting the global market.

Through this acquisition, SHIFT UP has successfully integrated world-class development talent and expanded its new PC and console-based pipeline. Furthermore, the company plans to directly handle the publishing of UNBOUND's upcoming titles and gradually build its own global service capabilities.

SHIFT UP CEO Hyung-Tae Kim stated, "I find it deeply meaningful to join forces with UNBOUND, which brings together a world-class development team led by CEO Shinji Mikami," adding, "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."

Shinji Mikami, CEO of UNBOUND, said, "I am very pleased to be partnering with SHIFT UP CEO Hyung-Tae Kim and all the employees." He continued, "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."

Meanwhile, SHIFT UP has released a branding video detailing this acquisition on its official YouTube channel for a global audience. The video features CEO Shinji Mikami's philosophy for game development and CEO Hyung-Tae Kim's vision for collaboration, heightening anticipation among global gaming fans.

This could be ending up Legendary...

 

[Jesb]

Good luck to them. I'm not really sure what the quality is of shift up as I didn't particularly care for the demo of Stellerblade. Also not sure if Mikami has done anything good lately.

 

[alf717]

Its cool to hear Mikami is still making games. His last game was The Evil Within right? Never got to play that one.

 

[Spooky Scary Skeleton]

Its cool to hear Mikami is still making games. His last game was The Evil Within right? Never got to play that one.

TEW 2 is possibly one of the best survivor horror games in last 10 years.

 

[Mr Hyde]

As if Shift Up couldn't be more based, they acquire the studio from one of the most legendary game directors of all time. Extremely hyped to see what these two distinguished gentlemen come up with in their future collaborations.

 

[Memati187]

Ok now buy off the resident evil ip from crapcom to let mikami do his magic.

 

[Felessan]

Mikami game with Shift Up budget and technical prowess sounds good to me. I don't love Stellar Blade but it looks and runs great.

It was XDEV works, they helped a lot with SB
ShiftUp by themselves are not that tech savvy, judging by NIKKE. They have rather good artists, though style not to my likings. And money, they run at 60% profit margin.

 

[Gitaroo]

It was XDEV works, they helped a lot with SB
ShiftUp by themselves are not that tech savvy, judging by NIKKE. They have rather good artists, though style not to my likings. And money, they run at 60% profit margin.

unfortunately XDEV couldn't help Team Ninja to get their Katana engine running properly like modern engine support variable frame rate properly when they worked on RoR with them. That game did introduce a lot of new features on consoles for the first time like FSR2, RT and skip animation, and PSSR.

 

[HYDE]

Holy shit! I have pronouns, best April Fool's joke mods

 

[Spooky Scary Skeleton]

It was XDEV works, they helped a lot with SB

XDEV helped with majority of production and other support roles like English localization, QA and marketing as the project grew after Sony's partnership, but the core game design and development was done by Shift Up since the debut of Project Eve.

 

[Neff]

If they go big with a AAA horror game

Pretty sure Mikami would run a mile from making horror games these days

Let the man make his big budget 'Die Hard' game

 

[yogaflame]

Possibly april fools day

 

[semiconscious]

sounds good to me. best wishes to all...

 

[Labadal]

Should have picked up Nagoshi's studio, so Gang of Dragon doesn't get cancelled.

 

[Traxtech]

Now buy the rights to the evil within and make 3 please

 

[uncreativename]

It's always weird/insider-trader feeling to me when one of these companies that hasn't actually released a product gets bought. I guess you can't get all that money if you just brought your idea to the buying company and went to work for them in the first place, huh?

Anyways, Mikami's awesome. Hopefully whatever he's working on is really cool.

 

[drotahorror]

Good, hopefully gets some good funding.

 

[KanKamAndNob]

If April Fools:

If legit:

 

[Agent_4Seven]

Idk what to think of this and it's April 1st...

I guess the time will tell, but what I can say now is that I don't see it as a bad thing for Shift Up and Mikami.

 

[Xyphie]

Why would it be an April Fool's joke? Shift Up is a publicly traded company, massive legal liability to make a seemingly serious announcement that you're going to buy a company and then go "lol april fools".

 

[ToneyJ]

yeah its 100% real guys

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Hopefully it's true and not an elaborate April Fools' prank, lol.

 

[Aressa]

True or fools?

 

[PatriciaFG]

- SHIFT UP secures "Resident Evil" Visionary Shinji Mikami and his newly founded studio

- SHIFT UP to strengthen the company's global PC and console publishing capabilities with UNBOUND's upcoming titles.

(April 1, 2026) SHIFT UP (CEO Hyung-Tae Kim) announced that it has completed the acquisition of Japanese game developer UNBOUND Inc. by acquiring all of its shares.

UNBOUND is a PC and console game development studio led by Shinji Mikami, who is known for his work on global hits such as the ＜Resident Evil＞ series, ＜Devil May Cry＞, ＜The Evil Within＞ series, and ＜Okami＞, and a team of veteran developers. The team bring together those with acclaimed experience both in and outside of Japan, attracting significant attention from the global gaming industry.

Currently, UNBOUND is developing original PC and console-based IPs targeting the global market.

Through this acquisition, SHIFT UP has successfully integrated world-class development talent and expanded its new PC and console-based pipeline. Furthermore, the company plans to directly handle the publishing of UNBOUND's upcoming titles and gradually build its own global service capabilities.

SHIFT UP CEO Hyung-Tae Kim stated, "I find it deeply meaningful to join forces with UNBOUND, which brings together a world-class development team led by CEO Shinji Mikami," adding, "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."

Shinji Mikami, CEO of UNBOUND, said, "I am very pleased to be partnering with SHIFT UP CEO Hyung-Tae Kim and all the employees." He continued, "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."

Meanwhile, SHIFT UP has released a branding video detailing this acquisition on its official YouTube channel for a global audience. The video features CEO Shinji Mikami's philosophy for game development and CEO Hyung-Tae Kim's vision for collaboration, heightening anticipation among global gaming fans.

I also recommend checking out this website. It offers plenty of entertainment with great bonuses and prizes.

This looks like a match made in heaven. SHIFT UP is on a huge roll right now after the success of Stellar Blade, and Mikami is a total legend who's always deserved more creative freedom and stable backing. It's actually cool that Hyung-Tae Kim is still an active creator himself, so I'm sure they'll be on the same page when it comes to game design. I'm seriously hyped for whatever new IP they announce; it's probably going to be visually stunning and polished to a T.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Seems like they just started to gain some ground internationally and they're already pumping up their monopoly game by purchasing other companies. Growth above everything else I guess.

 

[SomeNorseGuy]

Let'em cook, I say.