NieR: Automata hits a major sales milestone as Square Enix confirms over nine million copies sold worldwide for the acclaimed action RPG.

As a player who has spent countless hours wandering the ruined amusement parks and desert cities of NieR: Automata, I was genuinely happy to see the game cross another major sales milestone. Square Enix recently confirmed that the acclaimed action RPG has now sold more than nine million copies worldwide since its 2017 launch. The official NieR X account shared the news with a short but heartfelt message: "This isn't possible without you," followed by a love heart emoji. That total combines global shipments and download sales, and it represents roughly one million additional copies since the game was reported at over eight million sales in February 2024.

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From my perspective, this extra million says a lot about staying power. The 2023 anime adaptation almost certainly helped introduce 2B, 9S, and A2 to a new audience, while regular discounts, strong word of mouth, and crossover content have kept the game in the conversation even nine years after release. A single million may not sound enormous compared with the biggest modern blockbusters, but for a game as strange, melancholy, and philosophical as NieR: Automata, every new player feels like a small victory.

A milestone worth celebrating

The latest milestone fits a steady pattern. The table below shows how the game has continued to find new players long after launch.

Milestone Date Copies Sold
Worldwide launch 2017 Initial release
Previous reported milestone February 2024 Over 8 million
Latest announcement 2026 Over 9 million

I still remember starting the game for the first time and expecting a stylish PlatinumGames action experience. What I got was much stranger: multiple endings, shifting genres, and a story that asks uncomfortable questions about identity, memory, and what it means to be human. It is exactly the kind of game that benefits from the anime adaptation, which launched in 2023 and gave fans another way into the story.

What players are saying

Steam reviews continue to pour in. The game currently holds a 91% Very Positive score from more than 1,200 reviewers in the past 30 days, and it is quickly approaching 100,000 total reviews on the storefront. One review from Steam user Spartan Ranger captures a common reaction: "I never thought a game where 90% of characters wear miniskirts and skintight bodysuits would be this deep storywise. It actually makes you think about the purpose of your own existence."

That disconnect between surface-level anime style and existential depth is precisely why the game has stayed relevant. I have recommended it to friends who do not normally play action RPGs, and they often come back with the same wide-eyed reaction. One review called it "an absolute masterpiece from beginning to end (or ends, to be a bit more accurate)." The reviewer continued: "Even for what was our most anticipated game of the year, I still didn't expect to be blown away that much, but this was an absolute thrill ride in every area." Another outlet offered a memorable comparison, saying the experience looks like what might happen "if Hideo Kojima attempted to design a Final Fantasy, and as it turns out, it is something that needed to happen."

NieR Automata is on sale

If you have not tried NieR: Automata yet, the Game of the YoRHa Edition has been a regular sight during Steam sales, often at 60% off. During the most recent holiday sale, the discount ran until January 2, and the edition included:

  • The base game

  • 3C3C1D119440927 DLC

  • Valve Character Accessory

  • Cardboard Pod Skin

  • Retro Grey Pod Skin

  • Retro Red Pod Skin

  • Grimoire Weiss Pod

  • Machine Mask Accessory

  • Exclusive wallpapers in multiple resolutions

The 3C3C1D119440927 DLC also received the same 60% discount during that period. Even in 2026, that package remains a very easy recommendation for newcomers.

Why it still matters

Between the anime on Crunchyroll, the Steam sales, and the NieR: Automata-themed DLC in Stellar Blade, the game refuses to fade away. I think there is a simple reason for that. Beneath the flashy combat and the memorable character designs, NieR: Automata is a game that trusts its audience to think. It asks questions without easy answers, and it rewards patience with some of the most haunting moments I have ever experienced in a game. It is easy to call a game a classic, but NieR: Automata earns the label by continuing to matter to new players more than nine years after launch. Nine million copies is more than a number. It is proof that strange, sincere games can still find a massive audience. ❤️