NieR: Automata hits 9 million sales, blending PlatinumGames action and JRPG depth into an unforgettable existential epic.
I first booted up NieR: Automata expecting sleek PlatinumGames action and maybe a few feels. Instead, I fell down a rabbit hole so deep that I am still climbing out in 2026. According to Square Enix, the game has now surpassed nine million units sold across all platforms. That figure covers physical copies and digital downloads on PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC. For a title that began life as a spin-off of a spin-off, that is no small potatoes. It is the kind of slow-burn success story that makes me believe in word-of-mouth magic. 🤖
NieR: Automata is the sequel to 2010's NieR, which itself is a spin-off and sequel to the Drakengard series (known in Japan as Drag-On Dragoon). The NieR universe sits in an alternate timeline, set after a different ending of the first Drakengard, which launched on PS2 in 2003. If that sounds like a lore pretzel, that is because it is. And I mean that in the best possible way. I have spent hours untangling the connections, and I still find new knots.
In Automata, I play as Android 2B, a cool-as-a-cucumber combat android caught in a proxy war between alien-created machines and human-developed androids. The RPG demands multiple playthroughs, and each route peels back another layer of the story. It is not just a New Game Plus; it is a whole new perspective. That structure hit me like a truck, and I have been chasing that high ever since. The first time I reached the credits, I thought I was done. Then the game said, hold my beer, and opened up a second act that flipped everything on its head. 🤯
My review score? A solid 9/10. I called it a fantastic and well-balanced mix between sleek PlatinumGames action and JRPG gameplay, bigger than the sum of its parts. It brings forth an absolutely fascinating setting and charming, likable, memorable characters that will both make you smile and tug at your heartstrings. That last part is key. NieR: Automata does not just want you to feel powerful; it wants you to feel something. Sadness, hope, existential dread, and maybe a sudden urge to listen to Weight of the World on repeat. 🎮
Now, in 2026, I am still waiting for a proper sequel. There has been no official word on when we will get a new mainline NieR game. Executive producer Yosuke Saito did mention that the franchise will have a new entry as long as series creator Yoko Taro is still alive. That is reassuring, but it is also the vaguest promise this side of a cryptic ending. The latest NieR game released was NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139, a remaster of the first NieR, which came out on PS4, Xbox One, and PC in 2021. Back then, I hoped 2025 would bring news. It did not, at least not the news I wanted. So I am keeping my fingers crossed for 2026. 🤞
Meanwhile, 2B has been busy. Her latest in-game appearance was in Shift Up's action game Stellar Blade, where the two franchises crossed over as part of premium DLC. Seeing her slice and dice in that world was chef's kiss. It is a reminder that Automata's influence has not faded; if anything, it is still rippling through the industry. Crossovers like that keep the flame alive, even when a sequel feels like a mirage.
Here is a quick snapshot of the milestone and the platforms it covers:
| Platform | Included in 9M milestone? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PS4 | ✅ | Original launch platform |
| Nintendo Switch | ✅ | The port that let me play on the go |
| Xbox One | ✅ | Reached a wider audience |
| PC | ✅ | Mods and endless replayability |
Physical and digital sales are both counted, which makes the nine-million figure even more impressive. It is not just a bunch of disc copies sitting in bargain bins. People are still buying this game, still talking about it, and still arguing about the best ending. That is the mark of a classic.
Will we get a new NieR game? I do not know. But if Yoko Taro is still breathing, there is hope. And if the nine-million milestone proves anything, it is that this weird, wonderful, heartbreaking game has legs. In 2026, I am still recommending it to friends, still thinking about Ending E, and still hoping for one more trip into that beautiful, desolate world. If you have not played it yet, do yourself a favor. Just bring tissues. 😭⚔️
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