🎮 Nine years after its debut, NieR:Automata has crossed 10 million copies. During the official 9th anniversary livestream, a commemorative video closed on four words that set the internet off: "NieR:Automata to be continued…" With the 10th anniversary ahead, the world of NieR is not finished yet.

NieR:Automata Crosses 10 Million Copies: A Nine-Year Journey

On February 20, 2026, Square Enix announced that the action RPG NieR:Automata has surpassed 10 million copies in worldwide shipments and digital sales. Originally released for PlayStation 4 on February 23, 2017, in Japan, the game reached this milestone approximately nine years after launch.

Alongside this, Square Enix also revealed that NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139..., the 2021 remake of the original NieR, has surpassed 2 million copies worldwide.

The trajectory is the interesting part. The PS4 version arrived in February 2017 and the PC (Steam) version the following month; by April it had already passed 1 million. From there: 2.5 million in March 2018, 5 million in December 2020, 7.5 million in April 2023, 9 million in December 2024. An Xbox One release and then a Nintendo Switch port in 2022 widened the platform base, and nine years after launch the total crossed ten million.

The post-apocalyptic setting, the uncompromising narrative, Keiichi Okabe's soundtrack and PlatinumGames' combat kept pulling in new players year after year, carried by word of mouth, sales and collaborations. In Japan this pattern has a name: "jiwa-ure" (じわ売れ), a slow burn rather than a front-loaded blockbuster.

The 9th Anniversary Livestream: Developer Gratitude and Honest Reflections

The announcement came during the "NieR:Automata 9th Anniversary Relaxed Celebration Livestream," broadcast that evening from 7:30 pm JST. On the panel: Producer Yosuke Saito, Creative Director Yoko Taro, Composer Keiichi Okabe, and Senior Game Designer Takahisa Taura. The stream had been announced with an explicit note that no new game information was planned.

The broadcast opened with a congratulatory video message from Natsuki Hanae, the voice of 9S, who expressed hope that the game would continue to be loved "for 10, 20, even 30 more years."

When the 10 million milestone was revealed, the development team shared candid reactions.

Yoko Taro, ever the unconventional creator, joked: "Honestly, I've been working on plenty of other things, but because this game just keeps selling, everyone thinks it's all I've ever done," before adding with sincerity, "I spend every day looking at people and feeling nothing but gratitude."

Takahisa Taura reflected: "The fact that I'm still able to make games today is because NieR:Automata was accepted by so many people. I'm grateful beyond words."

Mid-broadcast, Yui Ishikawa, the voice of protagonist 2B, sent a message that delighted fans: "Next year is the 10th anniversary, so I hope something special happens. People in charge, I'm counting on you!", a charmingly direct appeal that felt like she was speaking for the entire fanbase.

"NieR:Automata to be continued…": The Line at the End of the Video

The biggest talking point from the broadcast was the final frame of a newly released commemorative promotional video.

"NieR:Automata to be continued…"

The phrase made headlines across gaming media within hours. Sequel? New game announcement? Speculation intensified when Geoff Keighley posted the image to his own account with no accompanying text, which fans read as a hint toward Summer Game Fest 2026 in June, though Keighley routinely posts industry news and a repost is not a tease.

Others were more cautious, suggesting it might mean an offline version of the discontinued mobile game NieR Re[in]carnation, along the lines of Octopath Traveler 0. Whether it points to a sequel, a spin-off or something that is not a game at all was left unstated.

Producer Saito addressed the message directly at the end of the broadcast: "I deliberately included those words, 'to be continued.' It's not a lie or an exaggeration, it's meant to convey that the world of NieR:Automata will continue." He then added, "Starting tomorrow, we'll begin preparations for the 10th anniversary."

New Merchandise and Collaborations

The broadcast's "Shopping Channel" segment unveiled a wave of new products.

A commemorative statue marking the 10 million sales milestone was revealed in prototype form, featuring an intricate design based on the game's iconic package art. A special illustration by artist Kazuma Koda was also unveiled.

A Pixio collaboration gaming monitor (27-inch) featuring original artwork by DK was announced for pre-order starting fall/winter 2026. An NZXT collaboration PC case, also featuring DK's artwork, was revealed alongside it.

The NieR: Piano Concert - Journeys 12026 - was confirmed for Japan, with ticket lottery registration now open.

There was even an impromptu discussion about potentially restaging the "YoRHa Boys" theatrical play, with Saito enthusiastically saying he'd push for it, joking that he might not have a job on Monday after making the promise on air without company approval.

The Anime: NieR:Automata Ver1.1a: How Was It Received Overseas?

No account of NieR's global expansion is complete without the anime adaptation NieR:Automata Ver1.1a. A-1 Pictures animated it, Ryoji Masuyama directed, Yoko Taro shared series composition and script duties, and the 24 episodes streamed worldwide on Crunchyroll.

Game fans generally praised the fidelity of the atmosphere, the returning Japanese voice cast, and Keiichi Okabe's adapted soundtrack.

The scheduling was another matter. The first cour began on January 8, 2023 and stopped straight after episode three; episode four did not air until February 18. A second halt in mid-March pushed everything from episode nine onward, and the remaining four episodes were finally marathoned on July 23. The second cour ran a year later, July 5 to September 27, 2024. From first broadcast to twenty-fourth episode: one year and nine months. COVID-19 was the reason given each time, an explanation a fair number of fans were already questioning by 2023.

Reviews also diverged sharply based on viewers' familiarity with the game. Players who had completed the game appreciated the incorporation of content from the YoRHa stage plays and the "Ver1.1a" alternate timeline approach. Newcomers, however, sometimes found the narrative confusing, noting that the game's interactive storytelling style didn't always translate smoothly to a passive viewing experience.

Despite these challenges, the anime served as an important gateway, introducing NieR's world to audiences who might never pick up a controller.

Looking Ahead to the 10th Anniversary

Producer Saito has said preparations for the 2027 anniversary are underway. A new game, another media project, something else: at the time of the stream there was nothing to go on.

Update: In May 2026, Yoko Taro offered his own reading of the message on social media, saying he assumed it meant something along the lines of "we're still going to milk this and make money." Saito replied that he was the one who had asked for the line to be included, and that he could not say whether a continuation existed. As of the end of July 2026, no new title has been formally announced.

Is NieR popular in your country? What was your first experience with the game, and what are you hoping for from the 10th anniversary? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

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