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.
SHIFT UP will publish UNBOUND’s titles, supporting the team with its global publishing expertise and resources as they develop original games.
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.”
SHIFT UP has released a branding video detailing this acquisition 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.
Shinji Mikami doesn’t need an introduction but here’s one anyway. Resident Evil. Devil May Cry. Killer7. Okami. Vanquish. The Evil Within. Hi-Fi RUSH. Ghostwire: Tokyo. Three decades of work that helped define action games as we know them today. With UNBOUND, he is building a studio focused on original experiences, creative exploration, and supporting the next generation of developers.
The people on the team describe working with him in ways that don’t sound like a typical studio. “He doesn’t have his own office” says one team member. “He sits at a desk with us. You can just talk to him.” The culture that creates is exactly what you’d hope for. “At UNBOUND we are able to talk about ideas freely with everyone,” says another. “If the idea is interesting, we can try to make it.”
Hyung Tae Kim is the other half of this equation. As founder and CEO of SHIFT UP, he built his reputation the same way Mikami did, by making games with a distinct artistic identity and refusing to compromise on either.
GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE and Stellar Blade proved that, despite being brand-new IPs, they don’t just compete at the highest level — they have established SHIFT UP as a global creator of premium, character-driven experiences. Now Kim is stepping into a new role: publisher. And his philosophy on what that means is refreshingly direct. “I grew up playing games from Shinji Mikami,” he says. “And to be here now working together is incredibly meaningful.” But excitement alone isn’t the point. Kim’s ambition for SHIFT UP as a publisher is built on a simple conviction: “If a work is good, people will naturally understand its value without needing excessive praise or forced recommendations.” Through this partnership, SHIFT UP aims to support UNBOUND in bringing their creative vision to players around the world.
What draws these two together isn’t geography or market logic. It’s a shared conviction that strong creative direction and high-quality execution go hand in hand. UNBOUND runs on parallel development: smaller, experimental titles alongside a large-scale flagship, so neither ambition nor risk-taking ever gets sacrificed to the other.
“We believe we can respect each other as creators and make games together” Mikami says. “And I think with Hyung Tae, we can even enjoy the hard parts.” He goes further: “Seeing my own vision and ideals come into focus like this, and finding someone whose direction aligns so closely is something I’ve rarely experienced before in my career. I hope we keep building together for a long time.”