Nier: Automata has achieved a monumental milestone, selling over 10 million copies worldwide—nearly a decade after its 2017 release. Yet despite its staggering commercial success, the game’s creator has faced repeated setbacks in bringing a sequel to fruition, with multiple projects canceled before completion. Now, a single phrase at the end of its ninth-anniversary livestream has reignited hopes for a continuation.
The announcement came via Square Enix’s official Nier X account, which celebrated the milestone with a simple yet striking message: NieR:Automata has shipped and digitally sold over 10M copies worldwide! Glory to mankind.* The news underscored the game’s enduring appeal, though it also highlighted the challenges of turning that success into a new entry in the series. Earlier statements from series creator Yoko Taro revealed a frustrating pattern—multiple unfinished projects, including a potential Nier sequel, have been scrapped before reaching announcement stages.
Yet the anniversary livestream’s closing line—Nier: Automata to be continued…—left fans buzzing. The tease, shared widely by figures like The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley, was brief but deliberate, sparking theories about a direct sequel, a spiritual successor, or even a crossover. While some speculate it could hint at another collaboration—such as the recent Stellar Blade—the phrasing strongly suggests a return to the game’s core identity.
For newcomers, Nier: Automata remains a masterclass in narrative experimentation, blending action combat with a labyrinthine story that unfolds across multiple playthroughs. Its world of warring androids and existential themes has cultivated a fiercely dedicated fanbase, though its complexity often requires patience. The game’s originality—described by Taro as a story I’d have trouble grasping myself—has cemented its place as a landmark in action RPGs.
What’s next remains unclear. Square Enix has not confirmed the nature of the tease, but the sheer scale of Automata’s success—10 million copies in an era of shrinking AAA releases—makes the possibility of a follow-up more tantalizing than ever. Whether it materializes as a full sequel, a reimagined entry, or another form of continuation, one thing is certain: the demand for more Nier* is louder than ever.
