Fans of the critically-acclaimed NieR franchise have reason to be excited, as the series’ legendary creative leaders have reunited for a new collaborative project shrouded in secrecy. However, the big question remains: is their next endeavor a long-awaited sequel to NieR: Automata or something entirely different?
In the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu, Square Enix executive and NieR series producer Yosuke Saito teased the reunion while remaining coy about exact details. “I’ve been talking about wanting to do something with Yoko and Okabe for some time now,” Saito disclosed. “I’ll have something a bit more put-together to say in the not-too-distant future, so please stay tuned. It might be NieR, it might not be NieR.”
Joining Saito on the mystery project are two other celebrated NieR visionaries – director Yoko Taro and composer Keiichi Okabe. The trio were the driving creative forces behind 2017’s groundbreaking NieR: Automata, a genre-blending masterpiece that earned universal acclaim for its rich storytelling and inventive gameplay fusion of action-RPG and bullet hell shooter elements.
While Saito remained tight-lipped about explicitly confirming a new NieR installment, he did offer a tantalizing hint about the scope and ambition fueling their current work.
“I’m doing various things with the idea of creating something that does not yet exist,” the veteran producer stated. “I can’t devote my time to that fully, so most of it has been left to the staff, but it’s turning into something quite interesting. I’m looking forward to the day we can announce it.”
It’s been over six years since NieR: Automata transformed the cult classic series into a mega-hit, achieving over 7 million copies sold. Aside from 2021’s upgraded remaster of the original NieR Replicant, fans have been clamoring for Taro, Saito and Okabe’s next genre-defying masterpiece.
With talk of creating “something that does not yet exist” and an impending announcement coming “in the not-too-distant future,” all signs point to this likely being a full-fledged new entry in the NieR universe versus a spin-off or mobile title. However, the team’s avant-garde approach means the possibilities truly are endless.
Whether it manifests as NieR’s wildly anticipated next mainline chapter or a wholly original IP, the reunion of such an exceptionally creative trio is sure to push boundaries and deliver another uncompromising artistic vision. The countdown is now on for the project’s official unveiling, whenever or wherever that may be.
