Nine years later, Nier: Automata just hit 10M — and Square Enix ended the trailer with one loaded

Nier: Automata just crossed 10 million sales – and Square Enix closed its birthday reel with a tease that changes the conversation

Nine years after its release, Nier: Automata has quietly become one of the rare modern hits that keeps growing without a constant parade of new releases. Square Enix marked the milestone with a recap video that ran through concerts, crossovers and tie‑ins, confirmed the game sold over 10 million copies worldwide, and ended with one simple line: “Nier: Automata to be continued.” That single phrase is the story – not the sales figure itself – because it escalates fan hope from nostalgia to expectation.

• 10M and counting: Square Enix and platform outlets confirm the long‑selling action RPG has passed 10 million copies (up from ~9M in Dec 2024); NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139 sits at 2M.
• Vague tease, big implications: The trailer’s “to be continued” line is the clearest publisher signal yet that Automata‑adjacent projects — possibly a sequel — are being considered, but the wording purposefully avoids committing to a full game.
• Community is already reacting: Reddit, Discord and Steam forums exploded after the clip; traffic spikes and celebratory threads are driving fresh word‑of‑mouth that likely helped the extra million sales.
• What’s missing: No developer statements from Yoko Taro or PlatinumGames; Square Enix released the clip but offered no roadmap or timelines.

Why the 10M number matters more than it sounds

Ten million copies isn’t just a round number for PR; for a niche‑adjacent JRPG that launched in 2017, it’s proof the game’s cultural momentum is self‑sustaining. Outlets from Steam News to GamesRadar and Nintendo Life all note the same trend: Automata has kept selling through ports, soundtrack demand, and a steady stream of crossovers that keep 2B visible in the zeitgeist (3DJuegos; Steam News; GamesRadar; Nintendo Life).

That continued visibility matters. It changes the calculus for Square Enix: an evergreen IP with demonstrable sales tail becomes a low‑risk place to park development resources, merchandise cycles and multimedia projects. In plain terms, the franchise is now a reliable revenue engine — not a one‑off cult darling.

Don’t call it a sequel yet — Square Enix is practicing happy ambiguity

The company’s final frame — “to be continued” — is an intentionally elastic phrase. As multiple outlets point out, that can mean anything from a full Nier: Automata 2 to another stage play, an anime extension, or simply more crossover campaigns (GamesRadar; Nintendo Life; 3DJuegos). If you’ve followed Square’s habit of teasing without details, this is textbook: excite the fanbase, drive engagement, and leave options open.

The uncomfortable truth: fans are being primed. Square Enix gains the upside of renewed interest without being tied to a deliverable. The follow‑through will be the signal that separates a meaningful new entry from yet another string of high‑margin merch drops.

Why I’m leaning toward a real game — and what weakens that case

Reasons to believe a game could be next: Automata still attracts developer attention, PlatinumGames is the original studio, and Yoko Taro’s name carries narrative gravity fans want. Media outlets also note developer activity and past hints that some creators connected to Nier have been quietly working on projects (GamesRadar; Steam News).

Reasons to stay skeptical: there’s no official dev statement, no ratings board filings, and Square has a history of using the franchise for non‑game projects that sell well. The trailer itself reads like a greatest‑hits package designed to sell more soundtracks, concert tickets, and crossover skins — all lucrative and low‑risk compared with funding a AAA sequel.

What to watch next

• Official interviews or posts from Yoko Taro or PlatinumGames — any direct confirmation would flip this from hopeful to actionable. Watch the next 30 days for such statements.
• Square Enix press channels and publisher events — a registration, teaser trailer, or developer credits added to Square’s site would be the first hard sign.
• Platform metrics: expect Steam and console storefronts to show sales spikes this week; player traffic on Reddit/Discord already spiked and can sustain momentum if Square announces more.
• Ratings board filings or trademark activity — these are boring but reliable early indicators that a new game is actually being built.

Community reaction has been overwhelmingly positive (see Steam forums and Reddit threads), but remember that enthusiasm doesn’t equal commitment. Square has given fans permission to hope — now it has to give them something real.

TL;DR

Nier: Automata has passed 10 million sales and Square Enix closed its recap video with “to be continued” — a deliberate, high‑value tease that increases the odds of future projects but stops short of confirming a sequel. The milestone proves the franchise is commercially healthy; the trailer proves Square knows exactly how to stoke the fandom. Watch for developer comments, press filings, or ratings board listings in the coming weeks — those will tell you whether this is the start of a new game or just another profitable nostalgia cycle.