Nier’s Sequel Might Be Close, Yet So Far

One of the most beloved anime hack-and-slash games, Nier, had an uprising around 2017 with its Nier: Automata. The title was already known for its action-packed gameplay with deep lore and story-rich elements. However, its later game caught the attention, for, let’s say, its atmosphere and inclusion of certain characters. While the series continued to thrive with later titles, fans started to crave more games.

Series creator’ Yoko Taro, who is always hidden behind his moon mask, also wanted to continue the series; however, he also wanted to dive into other IPs as well. We currently know that he is working on an RPG from the series called Voice of Cards, but we might have just gotten a teaser about a new Nier game. A few days ago, Yoko Taro attended the Nier London Concert, which he was also a part of, and briefly showed number 3. This could mean a few things, such as the letter “e” representing 3 in Nier.

It has been 7 years since Nier: Automata’s fame flew up into the sky, and with its anime and concert adaptations, it's still one of the games people dearly follow with passion. And since the creator is as ambitious as the player base, it's no surprise there would be a follow-up for the franchise. However, one must know that publishers also have a stake in the gamble of publishing a new title. 

As silly as it sounds, Square Enix, the publisher of the series, should be aware that a new Nier game would be selling like hotcakes. Therefore, there shouldn’t be a reason not to give it a green light. Since the release of Nier: Automata, the game has sold 8 million copies, which is a great deal in terms of a one-man creator, just like Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear or Death Stranding series. 

But again, making a new game and continuing the story from where it left off takes time and effort. For it to be solid and acceptable by the terms of a giant publisher, Yoko Taro needs to first finish his business with other projects and then revisit the series with a clear mind. We expect it to be rather a long time before that happens.