NieR:Automata just passed 10M sales — and Square Enix quietly teased “to be continued”

Why this matters: NieR:Automata’s milestone isn’t just numbers – it’s momentum

This caught my attention because a near‑decade old action RPG breaking 10 million sales is the kind of sustained success that actually moves a franchise – and Square Enix used the occasion to drop the line “to be continued,” the clearest official hint we’ve had that NieR:Automata isn’t finished. That combination of commercial weight and an explicit tease changes the conversation from “maybe someday” to “expect something.”

• NieR:Automata has surpassed 10 million worldwide shipments and digital sales, up from 9 million in December 2024 (Square Enix announcement compiled across outlets).
• Square Enix closed a 9th‑anniversary video with text reading variations of “to be continued,” a deliberate tease rather than a firm release confirmation.
• What “continued” means is still open – sequel, spin‑off, ports, stage productions, or more crossovers are all on the table, and the company has history with all those options.

Breaking down the announcement

On February 20, 2026 Square Enix marked NieR:Automata’s ninth anniversary with a celebratory trailer and new artwork while confirming total shipments and digital sales exceeded 10 million units worldwide. The milestone was reported consistently across outlets like Gematsu, GamesRadar, 3DJuegos and Nintendo Life — all noting the jump from the nine‑million figure cited in December 2024.

The trailer itself is a lookback: release rollout (PS4 in 2017, PC via Steam in March 2017, Xbox One in 2018, Switch port in 2022), concerts, stage plays, anime tie‑ins, and a parade of crossovers that helped keep 2B culturally visible. At the end, text appears — translated in some coverage as “to be continued” or “continuará” — which is squarely a tease rather than an announcement of a specific project.

Why “to be continued” is meaningful (and why to be cautious)

Words matter here. The phrasing used in the trailer — reported as “NieR:Automata to be continued…” in several outlets — is the first time Square Enix has publicly indicated the Automata era will proceed beyond anniversary retrospectives and merch. That’s notable because the company has previously teased the franchise without delivering a blockbuster follow‑up.

Still, “continued” is intentionally ambiguous. The NieR franchise has a long history of finding new life in many formats: remakes (NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…), a mobile gacha (NieR Re[in]carnation) that later shut down, orchestral concerts, stage plays, and swag. So this might be a proper full‑blown sequel developed with PlatinumGames and Yoko Taro, or it could be another non‑game project that keeps the brand active.

Context from the industry

From a business angle, a decade‑long evergreen like Automata hitting 10M is a green light for investment. Square Enix has shown willingness to keep milking popularity through crossovers and ports — the Switch port in 2022 kept the game selling — and the company benefits from a broad NieR ecosystem that includes Replicant’s respectable sales (reported at 2 million) and strong soundtrack‑driven fandom.

From a creative angle, fans have reason to hope: GamesRadar noted some of Automata’s lead developers were working together on a mysterious project as recently as last summer, which feeds speculation that a direct follow‑up could be in development. But until we get quotes from Yoko Taro, PlatinumGames, or a specific dev roadmap from Square Enix, it’s still speculation.

What gamers should expect next

• Don’t expect a date — watch for developer interviews or a formal announcement from Square Enix or PlatinumGames.
• Look for IP extensions first: new collaborations, concert tours, or merchandise are fast wins and very much on brand for NieR.
• If a sequel is coming, early indicators will be hiring posts, trademarks, or Yoko Taro/PlatinumGames confirmations — keep an eye on those signals.
• Technical follow‑ups: if ports or remasters are hinted, expect patch notes and Digital Foundry coverage soon after.

Personally, I’m excited but skeptical in equal measure. A declaration that Automata will “be continued” — after a steady build of ports, concerts and crossovers — is the kind of understated tease this franchise excels at. It’s not the same as a release date, but it’s the best, clearest signal from Square Enix we’ve had in years that NieR’s story and world will keep moving forward.

TL;DR

NieR:Automata has topped 10 million sales and Square Enix closed its 9th‑anniversary trailer with “to be continued.” That’s an official, deliberate hint that more NieR content is coming — what form it takes (sequel, spin‑off, or non‑game projects) remains unclear, but the franchise has the sales and cultural momentum to justify a big follow‑up.