Why NIKKE Players Felt Let Down by the Evangelion Crossover Event

Shift Up's Goddess of Victory: NIKKE Evangelion collaboration fell short of expectations, according to a recent interview with the game's producer. Let's examine what went wrong with this August 2024 crossover event.

The Issues

Shift Up acknowledges several shortcomings. While Rei, Asuka, Mari, and Misato's in-game outfits remained true to their original designs, this faithfulness didn't translate into player enthusiasm.

The 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 the player base. The altered aesthetics lacked the appeal of the original concepts.

Player Reception

The underwhelming outfits weren't the sole problem. Players found little incentive to invest in limited-time characters or costumes, particularly given the lack of significant visual differences. Asuka's gacha skin, the most expensive option, bore a striking resemblance to her default appearance, proving a major turn-off.

Goddess of Victory: NIKKE's strength lies in its bold anime aesthetic and engaging narrative. However, recent collaborations, including the Evangelion event, have diluted this identity, leaving players feeling unmotivated. The event itself felt drawn out and lacked inspiration in its design.

Looking Ahead

Shift Up assures players that feedback will inform future collaborations. Hopefully, this translates into more compelling and well-executed crossover events.

In the meantime, you can find both Neon Genesis Evangelion and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE on the Google Play Store. The hope is that Shift Up will learn from this experience and deliver more exciting content in the coming months.

For more gaming news, check out our coverage of Wuthering Waves' Version 1.4 Update on Android.