Shift Up's Goddess of Victory: NIKKE collaboration with Neon Genesis Evangelion fell short of expectations, according to a recent interview with the game's producer. The August 2024 event, featuring Rei, Asuka, Mari, and Misato, encountered several setbacks.

The Collaboration's Shortcomings:

Initial character designs, created collaboratively by Shift Up and the NIKKE team, were deemed too suggestive by Evangelion's creators, leading to revisions. While the adjusted designs satisfied the licensors, they failed to resonate with players. The resulting outfits, while faithful to the originals, lacked the appeal to incentivize players to acquire them.

Player Feedback:

The issue extended beyond the character designs. Players found limited incentive to spend on limited-time characters and costumes, particularly given the minimal visual differences between the new skins and the base models. Asuka's gacha skin, the most expensive option, suffered from this lack of visual distinction.

The collaboration was criticized for diluting NIKKE's established identity, known for its bold anime aesthetic and engaging narrative. The event itself felt drawn-out and uninspired.

Looking Ahead:

Shift Up acknowledges the negative feedback and promises to incorporate player input into future collaborations. The hope is that future events will deliver more compelling content.

Both Neon Genesis Evangelion and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE are available on the Google Play Store. The expectation is that Shift Up will learn from this experience and deliver more engaging crossovers and updates in the months to come. For more gaming news, check out our coverage of Wuthering Waves' Version 1.4 update on Android.