NieR Automata isn’t done yet — Square Enix just lit a bonfire under fans’ hopes

The phrase “NieR Automata sequel” suddenly stopped sounding like wishful thinking and started sounding like a possibility this week. During a celebration of the game’s massive sales milestone, publisher Square Enix dropped a simple but explosive message: “to be continued.”

If you listen closely, that noise you hear is half the JRPG community simultaneously choking on their coffee.

Released in 2017 and directed by the famously eccentric Yoko Taro, NieR: Automata has now surpassed 10 million copies sold worldwide across physical shipments and digital downloads. That’s not just impressive for a niche philosophical action RPG — that’s blockbuster territory.

And yet, the real story isn’t the number. It’s the cliffhanger.

A celebration with suspicious timing

To mark the milestone, Square Enix released a commemorative video looking back on the game’s legacy. The montage was heartfelt, nostalgic, and exactly the sort of thing publishers release when they want to sell you merchandise.

Then came the kicker: a closing message hinting that the story will continue.

-No title.
-No logo.
-No release window.
Just enough ambiguity to cause widespread online detective work.

This is classic Yoko Taro territory — the man who once wore a giant Emil mask to interviews and built a franchise on existential dread, android philosophy, and endings that require spreadsheets to fully understand.

Not confirmation — but definitely not nothing

Before anyone starts pre-ordering imaginary collector’s editions, it’s important to note that nothing official has been announced. The “continuation” could mean many things:

• A full sequel

• A spin-off

• Another remake

• Crossovers featuring 2B (again)

• Multimedia projects

• Something completely bizarre (very on brand)

Even insiders caution that it may not necessarily be a brand-new console game.

Still, context matters. The game recently celebrated its ninth anniversary and continues to grow its audience long after release — something most single-player titles can only dream about.

Why this series refuses to die (in the best way)

Part of NieR: Automata’s staying power comes from how strange it is. This is a game where:

• Combat shifts between genres mid-fight

• Side quests can cause existential crises

• The true ending requires cooperation with strangers

• You may willingly delete your save file for narrative closure

Not exactly safe corporate design.

Yet the gamble paid off. The game transformed the NieR franchise from cult curiosity into a global phenomenon and turned characters like 2B and 9S into gaming icons.

Fans have been asking for a follow-up for nearly a decade — loudly, persistently, and sometimes with the desperation of people who’ve replayed Ending E one too many times.

The reality of modern AAA development

There’s another factor: development economics. Even successful creative projects face enormous production costs, which can slow down or stall sequels despite strong fan demand.

Industry commentary in recent years has highlighted how difficult it can be to greenlight unconventional games, even after major hits.

In other words, success doesn’t automatically guarantee a follow-up — especially when the original was a risky passion project.

What happens next?

Speculation ranges from a reveal at a major showcase to a long wait for the franchise’s 10th anniversary in 2027. Some analysts believe Square Enix may be positioning the series for a major return once its current blockbuster pipeline clears.

Until then, fans are left with a single tantalizing promise.

“To be continued.”

It’s the gaming equivalent of someone saying, “We need to talk,” and then walking away.

Exciting? Yes.
Comforting? Absolutely not.

But if there’s one thing NieR fans know, it’s that hope and despair tend to arrive as a package deal.