Amidst celebrations for the third anniversary of Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, Shift Up addressed recent controversies surrounding the game. In a special video, director Hyungsuk Yoo stated that the studio “will never tolerate any attempt to insert hate speech” into its content, emphasizing strengthened internal control and review processes.
The statement is seen as a direct response to the “crab hand” incident that gained traction in South Korea in August. This controversy arose from commemorative artwork where a character’s gesture was interpreted as the “jibgeson” or “crab hand”—a symbol used by some radical feminist groups in the Asian country to mock men by implying they have small genitals. While Shift Up explained that the illustration was outsourced and there was no offensive intent, they issued a public apology and released a revised version of the image.
Following the controversy, Shift Up announced the creation of a new Quality Management department tasked with meticulously reviewing all visual materials to prevent similar incidents. Ironically, Goddess of Victory: NIKKE often presents a stark contrast to the agendas of feminist groups. The game is well-known for its female characters in revealing outfits and a visual style that heavily emphasizes sex appeal, clearly targeting a male audience.
