Stellar Blade developer Shift Up has acquired Unbound Inc, the nascent Japanese studio formed by Resident Evil and Devil May Cry creator Shinji Mikami.
Based in Tokyo, Unbound is currently developing original console and PC titles for the global market. Shift Up will publish those projects.
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but Shift Up said the move will expand its publishing footprint while bolstering its development capabilities with “world class” talent.
“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 blog post. “This acquisition will serve as an opportunity to deliver the best gaming experience to users worldwide and further solidify Shift Up global development competitiveness.”
Unbound CEO Shinji Mikami said the move will enable the studio to prioritise the creative process.
“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,” he added. “We will do our best to create fun games so that both companies, working as one, can meet our fans’ expectations.”
Mikami appears to have established Unbound towards the end of 2022, shortly before he departed The Evil Within and Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks.
The veteran designer founded and led Tango Gameworks, but made for the exit before the studio was sold to Krafton by Microsoft.