Shift Up Responds to Scandal Surrounding NIKKE and Bans All Expressions of Hate

Shift Up, the studio behind Stellar Blade, continues to grow its successful mobile and PC title Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, routinely rolling out new events and content.

During a livestream celebrating the game’s third anniversary, director Hyunsok Yoo spoke about NIKKE’s future and made a point of saying that “there is no place for hate in the project.” He affirmed that Shift Up will never allow “hate speech or similar attitudes to permeate NIKKE.”

The company stated it has reinforced internal quality-control procedures to ensure similar issues do not recur. While specific details were not disclosed, fans believe the comment refers to a controversy that occurred in August.

At that time, a celebratory illustration sparked strong backlash within the Korean community: two heroines were shown with their hands positioned in a gesture resembling a “crab sign,” which in Korea is associated with an implication about a “small penis.” Shift Up issued an apology, released an altered version of the artwork, and provided players with in-game compensation.

However, many fans remain worried that similar incidents could happen again, and amid those concerns the studio chose to publicly restate its opposition to hate.

Source: iXBT.games