According to Hyung-tae Kim, the CEO of Shift Up, the presence of “sexy female characters” in the studio’s popular titles, Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Stellar Blade, reflects both his personal preferences and the desires of the audience.

Hyung-tae Kim, CEO of Shift Up, recently discussed his creative approach to character design for Stellar Blade and Goddess of Victory: Nikke. In an interview with Japanese news outlet GAME Watch at the 2024 Tokyo Game Show (machine translated via DeepL), Kim shared insights into his design philosophy, emphasizing that his choices are guided by personal taste and instinct. He explained, “I don’t think it’s something we consciously set out to do, but I also do it because I like it, so I think it’s the result of simply following my instincts.”

His comments are particularly relevant given the current trend in the gaming industry towards less appealing character designs. Kim confidently maintains that attractive character designs not only reflect his artistic vision but also resonate with players. “What I consider most important when designing characters is to make sure that the narrative is firmly linked to the game’s story,” he explained.

Kim’s extensive experience as an artist informs his work; he has a history of creating memorable characters from titles like Magna Carta. For Stellar Blade, the team explored various design iterations of Eve, transitioning from 2D to 3D to achieve a captivating visual style. In Goddess of Victory: Nikke, the all-female cast showcases Kim’s signature design style, attracting a dedicated player base that enjoys both the game’s mechanics and its aesthetics.

Kim noted that the development team includes a high percentage of female creators, jokingly adding, “Despite this, the fact that such design is so important to me means that, if anything, the staff has already been imbued with my DNA. I am happy and satisfied with it in the shadows.”

Ultimately, Kim balances his artistic preferences with audience expectations, successfully crafting characters that enrich the gaming experience while staying true to his vision.

If you are ever interested in checking out what we thought of Shift Up’s Stellar Blade, you can check out our review here and the following video.