In the world of mobile games, surviving for three years is a pretty big deal, and thriving for three years, well, that's even more of a rarity. Still, that's what Goddess of Victory: Nikke has managed to do, thanks in part to frequent updates, an epic ongoing narrative, and, I'm going to say it, a solid bit of fan service. To celebrate this milestone, we got the chance to talk to Shift Up Studios' Lead Director, Yoo Hyungseok, about the game's evolution and reception.
As fans of the game know, the last couple of months have been a big deal in Nikke. The game has spent a long time building up to the confrontation with the Rapture Queen, the longtime big bad, while also introducing some new characters. That gave us a lot of context for our discussion with Hyungseok, but we also did our best to glean some information on what we can expect from the next three years of Nikke.
Pocket Tactics: Given Nikke's massive global audience, did you feel any extra pressure to deliver for fans when developing the final confrontation with the Rapture Queen?
Yoo Hyungseok: Of course. We often feel the pressure to meet the expectations of our fans. In particular, the third anniversary event and main story update are critical moments to showcase the worldview of Goddess of Victory: Nikke, so it was essential to do them correctly. On the other hand, as this is a story we have been looking forward to updating, there was an excitement about sharing it sooner.
With Nikke now having been around for three years, what influences the design and implementation of new characters? And is it more challenging now to create new characters compared to when the game first launched?
It's more challenging now, but from another perspective, it has become easier. As the story's scale has expanded, the number of character appearances required has increased. There are cases, such as the third anniversary characters, Nayuta and Bahamut, whose names are mentioned first in the story before their visuals are revealed later. In such cases, the Commanders' anticipation of their arrival becomes a source of joy and motivation for our work.
On the other hand, there are many more charming characters now compared to when our game was just launched, so we're thinking more deeply about how to create characters with distinct appeal. It's through this deep process of reflection that characters like Elegg and Bready came to life.
What do you think Nikke offers audiences that they don't get from other gacha games, and how has that helped the game continue to succeed?
There are many games in this world, and each has its own appeal. I think we're living in an era where games have to actively showcase their charms more than ever. In such times, I believe competitiveness comes from combining multiple appealing elements.
Over 500 high-quality OST tracks, delicate story presentation, well-developed and charming characters, and original arcade shooting battle gameplay - these are the biggest charms of Goddess of Victory: Nikke. I have been happily playing it for three years. If you haven't tried it yet, try going through the tutorial.
We've seen Nikke collaborate with other media, such as Nier: Automata and Resident Evil. Are there any dream collaborations you'd love to see come to fruition in the future?
The collaborations we've done with other IP brands are fun to develop and fun for our great fans. We've kept an open mind on what collabs we want to pursue that help keep the Nikke brand fresh and entertaining - the Padres X Nikke collaboration that was also tied to a real-life Nikke presence at the baseball game was very cool to see. I would love to pursue collabs like that, which grow our audience with both real-life and in-game events.
How effective have the Tactical Upgrades to early-game characters been at addressing power creep? How has the community responded?
Creating powered-up versions of characters, like those in the Absolute Squad, and appropriately managing character power inflation are both very important and approached with care, but they are not directly linked.
Our policy to keep character power inflation in check is managed under certain guidelines, and whenever issues arise, we strive to adjust based on feedback from Commanders. The concept of character power-ups is mainly intended to give characters more layered narratives and to showcase their growth. Since the Tactical Upgrade Plan received generally positive feedback, we plan to continue similar initiatives next year.
Among the previous characters, who is your favorite?
My favorite character tends to change over time. Currently, it's Red Hood.
Were there any characters who were particularly challenging to design, and was there a reason why?
It's also Red Hood. From the concept to visuals and theme music, there weren't many references for expressing her in the style of a bishoujo anime. In other words, it was hard to imagine whether the character would be sufficiently appealing.
I remember constantly asking myself, "Will this work?" throughout conceptualization, development, visual design, and music composition. Especially since the first anniversary was such an important milestone for us, it may have felt even more daunting. Fortunately, Red Hood as a character had a unique charm and compelling narrative.
If you were to draw a parallel using a scene from a show or movie, what do you think the third anniversary is more similar to? For example, the night before the Battle of Winterfell in Game of Thrones?
I really enjoyed Game of Thrones. As it's a world-class series, this comparison is too much for us, and I feel embarrassed to even mention it. Our story is assembled by many different Nikkes, so many people jokingly call us 'Avengers: Infinity War.' I will take this as motivation to make our game as fun as these outstanding works, and we will continue to work hard.
Does your team encounter moments of creative block while creating the story? What do you usually do when it happens?
Indeed, we often face the challenge known as the pain of creation, and everyone overcomes it in their own way. Some would take walks or rest to refresh their minds, while others would continue until they achieved good results. But we have one common way to recover: at Shift Up, we can bring our dogs to the office! Playing with our dogs for a while is a common way for the team to recharge.
You joined some offline events in the US before. How was the experience on-site?
There's a Korean saying that goes, "The most passionate otaku are Western otaku." It carries a positive meaning, and my visit to Anime Expo LA really brought that saying to life for me. Seeing fans passionately cosplay their favorite characters or sing along to the OST tracks played throughout the event was a great opportunity for me to feel that enthusiasm firsthand. Personally, it was a wonderful experience, and I will definitely attend events in the U.S. and Europe again.
In your view, how do American players differ from those in other regions?
Cultural differences can manifest in differences in behavior, language, and habits. I used to have the bias that Western players mainly play console games, so their way of experiencing games might differ. However, based on real experiences, I can confidently say it's not true at all. Of course, minor differences in details may exist, but the fact remains that we gain the same enjoyment through interactions and comfort from a game's in-depth narrative.
Do you have any special messages or well-wishes for American players?
I will never forget the connections I made at Anime Expo, including the Commander who was moved to tears upon seeing Cosmograph and I. Laughing, crying, feeling anger, and feeling joy through the Goddess of Victory: Nikke is a shared experience between the Commanders and us. Just as they love the Goddess of Victory: Nikke and respect us, we want to express our endless gratitude and respect to all the Commanders. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. In 2026, we will continue to deliver various kinds of enjoyment through Goddess of Victory: Nikke.
Now that we've had three years of Goddess of Victory: Nikke, what position would you like the game to be in in another three years' time, and are there plans to launch on any more platforms?
Looking ahead to Goddess of Victory: Nikke three years from now, we hope the story and characters will continue to receive the same praise for their quality as they do today. From a game build perspective, we aim for it to be recognized for even better operations and stability than it currently has.
At this stage, it's difficult to comment on potential expansions to new platforms, sequels, or adaptations into other media, such as animation. However, one thing is sure: Shift Up believes in the potential of the Goddess of Victory: Nikke IP to grow even stronger. We hope that someday we'll be able to share good news regarding its expansion. As much as we value the Goddess of Victory: Nikke IP, we are approaching any expansion with great care and thoughtfulness. We appreciate our fans' understanding in this matter.
There you have it, our interview with Yoo Hyungseok, covering everything from the finer details of game development to bringing dogs into the office. If you're eager to pick Nikke back up or want to try it for the first time, we've got a Nikke codes guide and a Nikke tier list to help you get started.