SHIFT UP has revealed fresh details about its long-term plans for Goddess of Victory: NIKKE. The company has confirmed that it will now actively focus on expanding the franchise beyond the game itself through merchandise, offline events, and universe-building initiatives.
The update was shared during SHIFT UP’s earnings presentation for the first quarter of 2026 (1Q 2026), where the company described its strategy for elevating the NIKKE IP through two major pillars: strengthening in-game content and expanding IP-driven business operations.
According to the company, NIKKE has now entered a phase where merchandise operations are being “progressively expanded” . SHIFT UP also confirmed plans to increase offline touchpoints and continue investing in universe expansion and product diversification so fans can engage with the franchise both inside and outside the game.
NIKKE’s Push Toward Becoming a Full Entertainment Brand
To be fair, NIKKE has been pretty straightforward with its long-term approach from the start. Even now in its fourth year, the game continues to stay active with major seasonal content drops, collaborations, and anniversary events. The recently held 3.5 anniversary celebrations are proof of the same.
The update introduced major new content and characters, such as Anis and her idol debut story, helping the game secure strong engagement and top-grossing rankings across multiple regions, including #1 on both iOS and Android in Korea and Japan, #4 on iOS in Taiwan, and #17 on iOS in the United States.
SHIFT UP also noted during the earnings report that NIKKE continues to show stable performance across key engagement metrics, supported by positive responses to recent updates and collaborations such as Lycoris Recoil and Resident Evil last year.
The company reported 1Q26 revenue of 47.3 billion KRW (approx $31.8 million), operating profit of 21.5 billion KRW ($14.4 million), and net profit of 37.8 billion KRW ($25.3 million).
The IP expansion thing has been something that most companies are looking to follow, beyond just the game itself. It’s becoming increasingly common to see publishers treating successful games as entertainment brands rather than standalone products.
Just recently, for example, Supercell announced a major partnership with Spin Master to bring franchises like Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars into the toy market globally. So the idea of not just being a “game only” company and being more as a transmedia brand is taking shape, which is definitely the right way to go.
NIKKE, in fact, probably has one of the biggest IP expansion potentials among modern gacha titles, especially considering how popular its story arcs and character writing have remained over the years.
The anime art style already has a strong global appeal, and that naturally opens the door for merchandise, collectibles, figures, clothing, and others that can attract an even wider audience beyond just the active playerbase.
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