Square Enix teased a return to NieR: Automata — and this one actually matters

One line changed the conversation: NieR: Automata “to be continued…”

A nine-year anniversary reel ending with the sentence “NieR: Automata to be continued…” is not subtle. Square Enix’s short celebratory video – posted across platforms on February 20, 2026 – reminded fans of concerts, crossovers, stage plays and ports, then closed with that precise phrasing. It’s the clearest signal yet that the Automata era isn’t being retired. Whether that signal becomes a full PlatinumGames‑built sequel, a spinoff, or simply more merch and media is still the question everyone is asking – and that ambiguity is Square Enix’s point.

• Square Enix confirmed NieR: Automata has sold over 10 million copies and ended its anniversary trailer with “to be continued…” (Steam; GamesRadar+; 3DJuegos; Nintendo Life).
• The tease ties explicitly to Automata-era characters like 2B and 9S, not the standalone 2010 Nier, making this a return to that timeline rather than a generic franchise nod.
• No developers (Yoko Taro, Yosuke Saito, PlatinumGames) have confirmed a sequel; the language remains deliberately broad.
• Practical signals to watch: developer statements, Summer Game Fest 2026, trademark/job listings, and investor updates.

Why this actually matters

Automata wasn’t just a successful JRPG; it relaunched NieR into the mainstream. Hitting 10 million sales (up roughly 1 million since December 2024) confirms what fans already felt: the franchise has legs. Square Enix isn’t dangling a toy — it’s highlighting a revenue engine that still grows through ports, concerts, crossovers and, yes, an endless supply of 2B figurines (Nintendo Life and 3DJuegos documented the crossovers).

That commercial momentum is why this tease carries heft. If Square Enix wanted to wink at nostalgia, they could have buried it in a tweet. Putting “to be continued…” at the end of a produced reel that catalogs nine years of activity is positioning: the publisher is telling investors and fans that NieR is an ongoing property with future projects worth backing.

The uncomfortable observation: it’s PR, wrapped in fandom

Let’s call the teaser what it is — marketing that doubles as news. The phrasing is intentionally vague. Sources (GamesRadar+, Steam, 3DJuegos, Nintendo Life) all note the same problem: “to be continued” can mean almost anything. A full sequel. A mobile spinoff. More licensed media. A merch push. Square Enix gets excitement either way, with minimal commitment.

That vagueness matters because of how NieR gets made. Yoko Taro’s projects have a messy history of starts, stops and cancellations; key contributors have bounced between projects; and PlatinumGames — the studio most fans want back for any action sequel — hasn’t said it’s attached. In short: the teaser raises the right expectations but doesn’t yet shoulder the risk of delivering them (GamesRadar+ covered the team’s recent project cancellations).

The question I’d ask Square Enix if I had a microphone

“Does ‘to be continued’ mean a greenlit, PlatinumGames‑led follow-up that requires Automata knowledge — or is this a promise to keep exploiting the Automata IP across media and merchandise?” Ask that, and you reveal whether this is creative commitment or corporate cost‑centering.

What fans want versus what’s realistic

Fans want the dream: Yoko Taro’s voice, PlatinumGames’ combat, and a narrative that follows Automata’s characters. That’s a pricier, riskier deliverable. What’s more realistic in the near term: ports, remasters, stage or anime tie‑ins, and collaborations — all of which have kept NieR visible for years. The anniversary reel itself lists concerts, adaptations and crossovers as the franchise’s current backbone (3DJuegos; Nintendo Life).

What to watch next — concrete signals

• Summer Game Fest 2026 (June): Geoff Keighley’s repost of the teaser has fuelled speculation that a reveal could land there; it’s the industry’s obvious next stage (Steam reporting noted Keighley’s share).
• Public comments from Yoko Taro, Yosuke Saito, or PlatinumGames — any tweet or interview that attaches names to the project will flip this from marketing to production news.
• Square Enix job listings or trademarks mentioning “NieR,” “Automata,” or project codenames — signs of a greenlighted game.
• Square Enix investor presentations or production roadmaps mentioning NieR projects; corporate language there is harder to spin.

Community reaction so far is enthusiastic but cautious; Reddit and Discord threads are full of excitement and memes, but many fans remember canceled projects and want a developer name attached before they celebrate (GamesRadar+ and community reporting). That split — hope plus skepticism — is where the story lives right now.

TL;DR

Square Enix’s nine‑year reel ending on “NieR: Automata to be continued…” is the most explicit confirmation yet that the Automata era will keep producing output. It matters because Automata remains a rare long‑running commercial success for Square Enix. It falls short because the company hasn’t said whether “continued” equals a proper sequel, a spinoff, more media, or just more merch. Watch for developer confirmations, Summer Game Fest 2026, and corporate signals — those will determine whether this is a promise or a tease.