Why NIKKE Players Felt Let Down by the Evangelion Crossover Event

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.

Design Challenges: Initial character designs, 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 designs, while faithful to the originals, lacked the appeal needed to excite the fanbase.

Player Disappointment: The issue extended beyond the character designs. Players found little incentive to invest in limited-time characters or costumes, especially given 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.

Diluted Identity: The collaboration was perceived as diluting NIKKE's core identity—its distinctive, stylized anime characters and compelling narrative. Players felt the event was underwhelming and not worth the investment. While acknowledging the game's strong foundation, the producer admitted the uninspired designs and drawn-out event structure were significant flaws.

Looking Ahead: Shift Up stated they are incorporating player feedback into future collaborations, aiming to deliver more engaging content. Both Neon Genesis Evangelion and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE are available on the Google Play Store. The hope is that future collaborations will be more successful and deliver the high-quality content fans expect.

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