Shift Up's Goddess of Victory: NIKKE Evangelion crossover fell short of expectations, according to a recent interview with the game's producer. The August 2024 collaboration, featuring Rei, Asuka, Mari, and Misato, missed the mark in several key areas.
Where Did it Go Wrong?
The initial designs for the Evangelion characters, created collaboratively by Shift Up and the Nikke team, were deemed too suggestive by Evangelion's creators. Subsequent modifications, while satisfying the licensors, 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 the limited-time characters and costumes, particularly due to the lack of significant visual differences between the new skins and the base models. Asuka's gacha skin, the most expensive option, was criticized for being too similar to her default appearance.
The collaboration's perceived failure stems from a disconnect between the game's established identity—celebrated for its bold anime aesthetic and compelling narrative—and the uninspired crossover event. Players felt the collaboration diluted the core experience, making participation feel less worthwhile. The extended length of the event also drew criticism.
Shift Up acknowledged the negative feedback and pledged to incorporate it into future collaborations. Fans hope to see a return to the high-quality content that established Goddess of Victory: NIKKE's success. Both games are available on the Google Play Store. In the meantime, check out our coverage of the Wuthering Waves Version 1.4 Android update.
