It will be the NieR series’ 15th anniversary next year and the series producer hopes to have something new to share for the occasion.
Despite it being a sequel to a cult classic from 2010 that not many people played, 2017’s NieR: Automata far exceeded everyone’s expectations, especially those of publisher Square Enix.
Its early success prompted Square Enix to turn NieR into a full franchise. But while this has since led to a modern remaster of the original NieR, an anime adaptation, a now defunct mobile spin-off, and crossovers with so many other video games, there remains no sign of a proper sequel.
A NieR 3 is bound to happen, though, considering NieR: Automata is still selling well over seven years later, and fans have been given a glimmer of hope that an announcement or teaser for it could happen in 2025.
Will there be a NieR 3?
Recently, Japanese outlet 4Gamer spoke with various game creators about their plans and ambitions for 2025. Among them was Square Enix’s Yosuke Saito, a producer on the NieR series.
Saito had said earlier this year that he was once again working with NieR series creator Yoko Taro and NieR composer Keiichi Okabe on a new project, cryptically teasing it ‘might be NieR, it might not be NieR.’
While Saito left enough room for doubt, his teasing comments to 4Gamer suggest he’d like to share something on ‘the next [NieR] game’ in 2025, especially since that year marks the 15th anniversary of the series.
‘I’d like to do something for [the 15th anniversary],’ said Saito (as translated by Gematsu). ‘What should we do… maybe something with the next game, or developments related to that… I’ve been hearing the fans’ expectations.’
He unfortunately stopped short of explicitly promising anything. But an anniversary year is perhaps the best time for Square Enix to at least tease a new game.
Considering Square Enix itself referred to NieR: Automata as ‘a global hit far in excess of our expectations,’ you’d think the publisher would have begun pushing for a sequel back in 2017.
If not, NieR: Automata’s continued sales success certainly would have. Last year, it was confirmed to have sold 7.5 million units worldwide and since then, that number’s soared even higher to more than 9 million units as revealed by the official NieR X account.
The real question is whether any NieR sequel will launch as a PlayStation exclusive like NieR: Automata did and only come to other platforms afterwards. The answer is likely no as Square Enix has decided to more vigorously pursue multiplatform releases.
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