Originally released in 2017 for PS4 and PC, NieR: Automata served as a sequel to the original Nier with new protagonists – 2B and 9S. As androids under YoRHa, who served the last surviving humans on the Moon, their mission was to battle the Machines, created by mysterious aliens who wreaked havoc on Earth. With time, however, it becomes clear that things aren’t what they seem at all.

After achieving critical acclaim at launch, it launched for Xbox One in 2018 and Nintendo Switch in 2022. There have been crossovers with numerous other IPs (including The First Descendant and Soulcalibur, of all things). However, outside of Nier Re[in]carnation, which shut down in April 2024, fans have yet to see a proper continuation.

A remaster of the original game, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… was released in March 2021 and has sold over two million copies to date. It offered revamped visuals and even a new ending, although there’s been no word on a continuation for that either.

Taking to Twitter, Square Enix recently announced that NieR: Automata has crossed another sales milestone and now stands at over 9 million units sold worldwide to date across all platforms. That’s up from 8 million units sold as of late February earlier this year, which means the action RPG has sold an additional million units in the space of 10 months.

Clearly, it continues to attract players in sizeable numbers. How long it maintains that momentum should be interesting to see, but the better the acclaimed title sells, the more baffling the lack of a new NieR game becomes. Hopefully that’ll change in the not-too-distant future.

NieR: Automata is available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

#ニーアオートマタ の世界累計出荷＆ダウンロード販売本数が【900万本】を突破いたしました。ご支援いただきありがとうございます。これからもよろしくお願いいたします。 pic.twitter.com/bJx1TVQpvx

— NieR公式PRアカウント (@NieR_JPN) December 27, 2024

Those cosmetics aren’t free, though – you’ll have to pay $9.99. However, an update is available at no charge, which adds four other outfits for Eve and quality-of-life features like selecting background music at camp. You can also remove Eve’s ponytail, utilize new poses in Photo Mode, and more.

Enemies have also gained new insta-kill skills to amp up the challenge. Head here for more details. Stellar Blade is available exclusively for PS5 – check out our review. After selling over one million units in its first month, developer Shift Up is targeting a PC version for next year.

Shift Up has since clarified on Twitter that this isn’t the case, but aside from the collaboration, everything else is free. It makes sense since the developer previously discussed the possibility back in July. Regardless, the free update is pretty significant, providing lip-synch support for six additional languages, quality-of-life features like removing Eve’s ponytail, and even new insta-kill skills for enemies.

The NieR: Automata collaboration goes live on November 20th, so stay tuned for more details. Stellar Blade is currently available for PS5 (check out our review), but Shift Up is also working on a PC version with plans to launch it next year.

The NieR DLC is paid, while the rest of the photomode and costume updates are FREE.😍

— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) November 15, 2024

Photo mode is also getting some updates with new poses and filters. Outside of the collab, Eve will get four other outfits and a new accessory (which alters a specific mode unlocked later in the game). There are also quality-of-life features like selecting songs when making camp and removing Eve’s ponytail entirely in Ponytail Length.

French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, and Italian will also have lip-synch support. Meanwhile, Auto-Targeting and Ballistics Correction have been added to the insta-kill skills from enemies, leading to “more exciting” battles.

Stellar Blade is available for PS5 – check out our review. It’s sold over one million units as of June, with the developer considering a PC version.

However, perhaps more importantly, a collaboration with Square Enix’s NieR: Automata has been confirmed. Also arriving later this year, the footage sees Eve and her drone transforming into 2B and the Pod 042 as they look out over the landscape.

It’s unknown whether this is simply cosmetic DLC or new content. We’ll need to wait for more details, but a collaboration seemed like a foregone conclusion, especially since the title was a “huge driving force” for Stellar Blade. In the meantime, the game’s original soundtrack, with over 180 tracks, is available to stream.

Stellar Blade is available for PS5 and has sold over one million units. Check out our review for more details on its combat, story, and more. Shift Up is considering a PC port and sequel, though nothing is confirmed. Head here for more details.

NieR: Automata launched for PS4 first before coming to PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. As a follow-up to Drakengard, it’s set in the far future with aliens invading Earth and driving the remnants of humanity to the Moon. As part of YoRHa, androids 2B and 9S participate in sorties to defeat machines created by the aliens.

Since its launch, NieR: Automata has garnered universal appeal for its combat, story-telling, characterization and themes. Check out our review for more details. Nier series producer Yosuke Saito said last November that the series will continue, but a new game isn’t in development. However, its characters have made cameos in other titles, with 2B recently joining Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising as a DLC character.

本日2月23日で #ニーアオートマタ は7周年。おかげさまで、グローバルでの累計出荷＆ダウンロード販売本数が【800万本】を突破いたしました。長い間、支えていただきありがとうございます。これからもよろしくお願いいたします。 pic.twitter.com/tpO19pj3KQ

— NieR公式PRアカウント (@NieR_JPN) February 22, 2024

2B doesn’t have a Dash Attack like other characters. However, she can activate different Pod programs for close, mid or long-range damage, including explosive barrages and gravity wells to draw an opponent in. It also allows for charging forward or grappling to an opponent. Several Pod skills consume the Skill Gauge, so you need to manage it accordingly.

She can also Perfect Dodge attacks and counter, grab Pod for a slow descent and double jump. There’s even a self-destruct option, rendering 2B invincible and dealing unblockable damage at the cost of depleting all her health.

2B is included in Character Pass 1 and standalone for $7.99. Stay tuned for more details on other DLC characters in the coming months. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is playable on PS4, PS5 and PC – check out our review.

While wielding Virtuous Contract and Virtuous Treaty, 2B can initialize different Pod programs for long-range fire and multi-hit shots. She can even Perfect Dodge like in the action RPG and retaliate. Along with her techniques, the trailer provides a quick look at 2B’s weapon skins. There’s even an alternate costume to resemble 2P, who appeared in Final Fantasy 14’s The Copied Factory raid.

2B will be available for Character Pass 1 owners (with Lucilius already available) and is also purchased standalone for $7.99. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is out now for PS4, PS5 and PC. Check out our review, where we awarded it an 8 out of 10, and stay tuned for further details on upcoming DLC characters.

Speaking to Famitsu (translation via Gematsu), studio CEO and director Kim Hyung Tae confirmed that PlatinumGames’ acclaimed title was a “huge driving force” for the project.

“Yes. NieR: Automata was a huge driving force behind me working on this project. It made me realize once again that I wanted to make a game like Stellar Blade.” Other titles that served as inspirations include Bayonetta, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Tae is also a fan of God of War, which offered the “experience of a vast world without being completely open-world.” This may explain Stellar Blade’s semi-open world approach, especially as players venture into the desert to fight Naytibas, haywire robots, hostile human survivors, and mutated monstrosities.

Stellar Blade launches on April 26th, exclusively for PS5. Head here for more details on the story. A Deluxe Edition is also available to pre-order for $80 and includes some outfits for protagonist Eve and supporting characters Lily and Adam.