NIKKE Announces GREAT VILLAIN UNION, Drake: Great Villain Arrives September 3

GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE is launching the new GREAT VILLAIN UNION story event on September 3, 2026 after maintenance. The story centers on a newly powered-up Drake declaring the launch of the New Villain Union alongside its members.

The announcement follows up on plans first outlined in the August Developer’s Note. SHIFT UP wanted to give Drake a larger story after PROJECT MATIS focused more broadly on Matis, and the new event will launch alongside the new SSR Drake: Great Villain.

Quick Summary

• Game: GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE
• Event: GREAT VILLAIN UNION
• Type: story event
• Main focus: Drake
• Event announcement: August 30, 2026 through the official NIKKE English account
• Event begins: September 3, 2026 after maintenance
• Event ends: September 17, 2026 at 4:59 (UTC+9)
• Status: announced; not yet live
• Opening premise: Drake powers up and declares the launch of the New Villain Union
• Drake's activities: continuing small and absurd acts of villainy with its members
• Story hook: Drake discovers a massive trail outside Reclamation Site 01
• Connection to the previous event: continues the character focus established after PROJECT MATIS
• Developer’s Note context: PROJECT MATIS primarily focused on Matis and left Drake with a relatively short storyline
• Purpose of the new event: give Drake more dedicated story material
• New Nikke: Drake: Great Villain
• Rarity: SSR
• Character status: powered-up version of Drake
• Official promotional role: leader of Villain Union
• Pick Up: September 3 after maintenance–September 17 at 4:59 (UTC+9)
• Manufacturer: Missilis Industry
• Squad: Matis
• Weapon: SG / shotgun
• Weapon name: Villain Night Carnival
• Source of the power-up: Missilis technology
• Ability improvement: stronger electrical discharge output
• Electrical control: can be handled with greater precision
• Japanese voice actor: Sumire Uesaka
• Promotional material: character profile, motion footage and Drake: Great Villain introduction video
• Combat design: the character video shows new equipment including a face guard
• Developer: SHIFT UP
• Global publishing/service: Level Infinite
• Platforms: iOS, Android, PC
• Genre: sci-fi RPG shooter
• Drake: Great Villain skill kit: not yet fully announced
• Element/code: not announced in the verified official material
• Burst Skill: not yet detailed
• GREAT VILLAIN UNION rewards: not yet detailed
• Event stage/minigame structure: not yet detailed

GREAT VILLAIN UNION and Drake: Great Villain

Drake Declares the New Villain Union

The official premise begins after Drake receives her power-up. Armed with her new strength, she declares the launch of the New Villain Union and resumes her particular brand of villainy alongside the group's members.

The story still preserves Drake's comedic characterization. The announcement explicitly frames their activities as small and absurd acts of villainy, indicating that GREAT VILLAIN UNION is not simply turning her into a conventional serious antagonist.

A Massive Trail Appears Outside Reclamation Site 01

The main mystery emerges when Drake discovers a massive trail outside Reclamation Site 01. The initial announcement stops there and does not identify what—or who—left it behind.

Using Reclamation Site 01 as the location keeps the event connected to the wider developments in NIKKE, although its exact relationship to the main storyline should not be assumed before the event becomes available.

GREAT VILLAIN UNION Expands Drake's Story After PROJECT MATIS

The August Developer’s Note directly explains why the new story exists. Director Hyungsuk Yoo said PROJECT MATIS primarily focused on the Matis Squad, leaving Drake's individual storyline relatively short.

GREAT VILLAIN UNION is intended to address that by placing more of the narrative around Drake herself. The September event therefore serves as more than a vehicle for a new SSR version—it continues the character direction established for Matis.

Drake: Great Villain Arrives on September 3

SSR Drake: Great Villain enters Pick Up Recruitment on September 3 after maintenance, the same day GREAT VILLAIN UNION begins. Her banner remains available until September 17 at 4:59 UTC+9.

Official promotion describes her as the powered-up leader of Villain Union. Important gameplay details, however, including her element/code, Burst Skill and complete skill effects, have not yet been revealed in the official material currently available.

Missilis Upgrades Drake's Electricity and Weaponry

Drake's profile states that her upgraded form was created by bringing together the technology of Missilis Industry. She remains affiliated with Matis and uses the shotgun Villain Night Carnival.

The power-up increases the output of her electrical discharge while allowing her to control electricity more precisely. Her motion footage also shows her new combat appearance, including armor and a face guard that distinguish Great Villain from regular Drake.

Why This Matters

1) Drake finally gets an event centered on her

The Developer’s Note directly acknowledged her relatively short role in PROJECT MATIS and positioned GREAT VILLAIN UNION as a chance to expand her story.

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2) Drake's comedic villain identity remains intact

Rather than presenting her as a conventional antagonist, the premise still emphasizes the small and absurd acts of villainy associated with her character.

3) Reclamation Site 01 gives the event a larger mystery

The massive trail introduces a clear story hook, while its source and consequences remain deliberately undisclosed.

4) The new SSR form is tied to her character progression

Drake: Great Villain is more than a costume change; her official profile describes a Missilis-powered upgrade, a new weapon and enhanced electrical abilities.

Game Information

Additional confirmed information currently includes:

• GREAT VILLAIN UNION begins September 3, 2026 after maintenance.
• The event ends September 17, 2026 at 4:59 UTC+9.
• The Developer’s Note identifies it as a story event.
• Drake is the main narrative focus.
• The story is designed to follow up on Drake's relatively limited role in PROJECT MATIS.
• SSR Drake: Great Villain has the same Pick Up period as GREAT VILLAIN UNION.
• Drake: Great Villain is manufactured by Missilis Industry and remains affiliated with Matis.
• Her weapon is the SG Villain Night Carnival.
• Her power-up increases electrical output and improves her control over electricity.
• Drake's Japanese voice actor is Sumire Uesaka.
• An official character video already shows the new form's motion and combat appearance.
• The complete skill set, element/code and Burst Skill have not yet been announced in the verified material.
• Rewards, event shop content, stage structure and any minigame for GREAT VILLAIN UNION have not yet been detailed.
• GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE is available on iOS, Android and PC.
• The game is developed by SHIFT UP with global service through Level Infinite.
• Official Website: GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE
• Official X: @NIKKE_en
• Drake: Great Villain Pick Up: Official X
• Drake: Great Villain Profile: Official X
• Drake: Great Villain Character Video: YouTube
• August 2026 Developer’s Note: Official Website

Closing

GREAT VILLAIN UNION gives Drake something she received relatively little of during PROJECT MATIS: a story event built around her while preserving her distinctly absurd idea of villainy. The mysterious trail outside Reclamation Site 01 provides the central hook when the event begins on September 3.

At the same time, Drake: Great Villain introduces a Missilis-powered upgrade and the Villain Night Carnival shotgun. Her full gameplay kit, event rewards, stage structure and the identity behind the trail Drake discovers are still awaiting further official details.