The global K-pop entertainment platform revealed all 38 participating artists individually from November 12, 2020, to August 29, 2022. The platform officially closed and its service was acquired SM Entertainment's Dear U bubble in January 2023, app users being transferred.[2][3]
Development
Ahead of its launch day, Universe surpassed four million pre-registered users on both the App Store and Google Play.[4] As of January 2021, K-pop fans from 188 countries around the world including South Korea, the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Brazil completed pre-registration with 80% of these users residing overseas.[5] Two months after its launch, Universe achieved more than five million global downloads with a total 692 exclusive contents released.[6] Four months after its launch, the K-pop entertainment platform surpassed ten million downloads.[7]
On January 20, 2021, NCSoft announced that it will offer original content through its upcoming platform UNIVERSE, which would be produced in partnership with NCSoft's new digital content wing, KLAP.[8]
Within ten months of its release, Universe surpassed 20 million downloads.[9] The proportion of overseas users increased to 89% while the total number of original content released rose to 5,122 with a cumulative view count of 21.46 million.[10] As of July 2022, after the Universe service completely reorganized, with a total of 6,288 original contents, the monthly revisit rate increased 10 times, the cumulative number of views reached 24 million, and the number of global downloads exceeded 24 million.[11]
All artists that have joined Universe will participate in its "Universe Music" series, with various content including music videos released each month.[a][46]
^The full music videos were exclusively released on the Universe app, excluding the one for the platform's theme song Guardians (Universe), which is also accessible on Warner Music Korea's YouTube channel. Starting with "Shark", the music videos are now released on YouTube a few days after their release on the app. Music videos for past Universe Music songs are now also available on the YouTube channels of Universe, Warner Music Korea, 1theK (Kakao Entertainment), and Sony Music Korea.
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^Jeong, Hee-yeon (January 21, 2021). 몬스타엑스→강다니엘, 2월 14일 '유니버스' 온라인 콘서트 [공식]. Sports Dong-A (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Naver.
^Gong, Mi-na (June 7, 2021). 엔씨 K팝 플랫폼 '유니버스', 1000만 다운로드 돌파 [NC K-pop platform 'Universe' surpasses 10 million downloads]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim, Geun-wook (December 7, 2021). 엔씨 K팝 플랫폼 '유니버스' 2000만 다운로드 돌파…"해외 비중 89%" [NC K-pop platform "Universe" surpasses 20 million downloads… "Overseas share of 89%"]. news1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021 – via Naver.
^Oh, Dong-hyun (December 7, 2021). 엔씨의 팬덤 플랫폼 '유니버스', 글로벌 2000만 다운로드 [NC's fandom platform 'Universe' has 20 million downloads globally]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021 – via Naver.
^Oh, Dong-hyun (July 19, 2022). 엔씨 '유니버스' 잘 나가네…하루 방문자 2배 늘어난 이유 [NC's 'Universe' is doing well... Why the number of visitors per day has doubled]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim, Eun-hye (November 19, 2020). '청량돌' 아스트로, 신개념 팬덤 플랫폼 '유니버스' 합류. Herald Pop (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim, Sun-woo (November 17, 2020). 에이티즈, 모바일 플랫폼 '유니버스' 출격…글로벌 팬 관심 집중. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim, Ga-young (November 22, 2020). CIX, K팝 멀티 플랫폼 '유니버스' 출격…전세계 팬들과 소통. E-Daily News (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Naver.
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^Jang, Jung-woo (August 29, 2022). 엔씨소프트, '유니버스' 아티스트 '디케이지' 합류 [NCsoft joins 'Universe' artist 'DKZ']. Daily Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
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^Son, Jin-ah (September 8, 2021). 고스트나인, '유니버스' 합류 확정…15일 플래닛 오픈(공식). MK Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021 – via Naver.
^Jo, Hyun-joo (November 16, 2020). (여자)아이들, 신개념 팬덤 플랫폼 '유니버스' 합류. YTN (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Naver.
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^Yoon, Sang-geun (November 15, 2020). 강다니엘, K팝 팬덤 플랫폼 '유니버스' 합류 "다양한 콘텐츠"[공식] [Kang Daniel joins K-pop fandom platform 'Universe' "Various content" [Official]]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim, Seon-hee (December 3, 2021). 케플러(Kep1er), 유니버스 합류 확정 [Kep1er confirmed to join Universe]. Sports Khan (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2022 – via Naver.
^ abcLee, Jae-eun (July 7, 2022). 이동욱·유연석·김범, 유니버스 합류[공식] [Lee Dong-wook, Yoo Yeon-seok, and Kim Beom join the universe [Official]]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Naver.
^Park, Dong-sun (May 18, 2022). 뉴이스트 렌, NC 유니버스 합류…25일 플래닛 오픈 [NU'EST's Ren joins NC Universe... Planet open on the 25th]. RPM9 (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
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^Lee, Jung-ho (November 13, 2020). 몬스타엑스 '유니버스' 합류 "글로벌 팬들과 실시간 소통". Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Naver.
^ abcdAhn, Jin-yong (January 19, 2023). 아이브·몬스타엑스…'스타쉽' 아티스트 '디어유' 입점. Culture Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023 – via Naver.
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^Jeong, Hee-yeon (February 23, 2021). 박지훈X이하이X프라이머리, 3월 4일 신곡 'Call U UP' 발매 [Park Ji-hoon x Lee Hi x Primary, new song 'Call U UP' released on March 4th]. Sports Dong-A (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
^Jung, Yu-jin (April 9, 2021). (여자)아이들, 수진 제외한 5인 체제로 유니버스 음원 발매[전문] [(G)I-dle Universe music released as a 5-person excluding Soojin [Professional]]. SPOTV News (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
^Park, Seo-hyun (May 13, 2021). 강다니엘X로꼬, 오늘(13일) 신곡 'Outerspace' 발매..특급 시너지(공식) [Kang Daniel X Loco, new song 'Outerspace' released today (13th)..Express Synergy (Official)]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2021 – via Naver.
^Hwang, So-young (May 24, 2021). AB6IX, 오늘(24일) 신곡 'GEMINI' 음원+M/V 공개 [AB6IX, today (24th) new song 'GEMINI' sound source + M/V release]. Daily Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
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^Jeong, Byeong-geun (July 2, 2021). 더보이즈, 11일 유니버스 뮤직 협업 곡 'Drink It' 발표 [The Boyz to release a collaboration song 'Drink It' with Universe Music on the 11th]. The Fact (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
^Jeong, Ha-eun (August 23, 2021). 유니버스X아스트로, 신곡 'ALIVE' 9월 2일 발매 확정 [Universe X ASTRO, new song 'ALIVE' confirmed to be released on September 2nd]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
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^Ha, Kyung-heon (August 13, 2022). 원호, 19일 신곡 '돈트 헤지테이트' 발매 [Wonho releases new song 'Don't hesitate' on the 19th]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim, Han-gil (September 20, 2022). 케플러 신곡 'Sugar Rush', 스윗 비주얼→강한 중독성 [Kepler's new song 'Sugar Rush', sweet visual → strong addiction]. TV Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
^Kwak, Hyun-soo (October 27, 2022). 비비지, 유니버스 신곡 'Rum Pum Pum' 오늘(27일) 오후 6시 발매 [Viviz, Universe's new song 'Rum Pum Pum' released today (27th) at 6pm]. YTN (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
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^Lee, Woong-hee (February 12, 2022). 유니버스, 오마이걸 팬파티 'Oh My Princess Diary' 성료! 팬파티로 특급 소통 [Universe, Oh My Girl fan party 'Oh My Princess Diary' has been completed! Express communication with a fan party]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 7, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
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^Yoo, Byung-cheol (May 6, 2022). 유니버스, 고스트나인→(여자)아이들 팬행사 개최…글로벌 팬心 정조준 [Universe, Ghost Nine → (G)I-DLE fan event held... Aim for the global fan heart]. Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 7, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.