NieR: Automata's been a real success story for everyone involved. The action role-playing game launched just over a year ago on PlayStation 4, and now Square Enix has announced the the release has moved over 2.5 million copies. That includes shipped numbers as well as digital sales. It also takes the PC version into account.
Still, it's a milestone for that game that could have easily ended up being a very niche release. Strong reviews, word of mouth, and recognisable character design all helped sell the title.
What are your thoughts on NieR: Automata? Deserving of its success? You don't have to wear a blindfold in the comments section below.
[source gematsu.com]
Comments 36
Any money it makes is completely deserved. Great gameplay, stunning music, and an utterly incredible and devastating story. Honestly one of my favourite games of all time.
Cool. Always nice to see unusual and ambitious games succeed. I'll definitely get around to it someday.
Cool but i'd prefer to know how successful Nioh is?
Too many games in 2017 I haven't played, will pick this up one day 😥
Kind'a low. Thought it was around 4-5 millions as it's on PS4 and PC. Weren't numbers reported a few months ago for Nier? Anyone remembers the then reported numbers? Well, my friends still praise the game and at some point, (when discounted in EU PS store) I'll get it.
It's an incredible experience, and these are great numbers which is nice to see.
@JAMes-BroWWWn tomb raider in comparison was released late last gen (160m consoles and pc), was multiplatform, was a known franchise, and sold around 5 million in its first year if I remember correctly.
I think 2.5 is pretty good for a game that really is niche and somewhat unknown but I agree with you that more people should have played it.
On a side note why aren't square freeking out that it didn't sell 150 million copies in its first year and firing the whole team?
I was a pretty big fan of the first game, played the demo of this and really disliked it. Sure, the final boss battle was cool, but all of those 2D platforming type levels and rooms of brown, what ugly boring areas I kept getting lost in.
But I keep hearing good things about it, so I'll get it on PS+ or when it goes on sale for $5. I think my backlog is down to about 2 1/2 years so it's time to start working on my "to buy" list again.
As games like this prove, you don't need to shift 5m copies or more to be 'successful' - at least from a financial PoV. In terms of 'potential' sales - with 75m+ PS4 consoles alone and who knows how many PC gamers there are, its not that high but then it is more Niche in the west at least.
Again, this also proves that there is no real 'need' for loot boxes to supplement rising development costs - its usually a practice found only in games that are profitable in the first week (if not day) any way and just 'greed' from developers/publishers as an easy 'cash grab' with no real investment cost.
If publishers want to make 'money' without crossing moral boundaries, they should make games that sell and without 'issues' - even Mass Effect: Andromeda was profitable but it could of brought in a LOT more had it been 'fixed' at launch and more if they were more 'ambitious' with the story...
Anyway - enough of the rant but anyone who tries to tell you, these devs/publishers need to add loot boxes to supplement rising costs, just remember that it doesn't take many sales for a game to be financially successful despite those costs.
This is still high up on my ever expanding game wish list.
Tempted to buy it on PC as it's less than 20 quid at the moment, but I still want them trophies...
Deserves much more, but that's still pretty good.
Good to hear, the game is pretty good.
Way to go P*! Hopefully they get better projects to work on.
Become as gods
It's a great game, can't wait for more. Even the legendary Kamiya said that Nier saved Platinum.
Also, it would be great if they make a new Drakengard and Vanquish.
One of my favorites, surely I will buy it.
All things considered, probably the best game this gen as far as I'm concerned.
Need to get back to my 2nd playthrough....
One of the best game this gen. I didn’t think I’d like it, but I really got into it and can’t sing it’s praises enough.
@kyleforrester87 Agreed. My pick for best game of 2017 personally.
Congrats to yoko taro, platinum games and squareenix
Nier automata is the perfect yoko taro and platinum combination, yoko taro story is great but his games is lacking in gameplay departement (maybe because lack of budget), while platinum gameplay is great but the story is just there, I mean bayonetta 2 is great but platinum can change the story to "bayonetta & jeanne shopping days" and it will have no impact on the game.
I also think platinum should stop fu**ing around and make relations with sony already, their games main audience is playstation, but they still focused making games for others platform. Bayonetta 2 tank on nintendo platform, scalebound is cancelled on xbox platform and nearly taking platinum games down while nier automata on playstation is saving the company. I know they're a "mercenary" studio, but I still think they should talk to playstation and make games for them. Like other "mercenary" studio, insomniac, focus on where most of the audience is (sony), and then try to make games for other platforms (pc/xbox) while still have a good relation with their main partner (sony).
glad it was a success and lets the studio live on, gotta admit this never really grabbed and pulled me in, I think I stopped about 3/4 of the way through the first ending, may go back to it one day
@rjejr OG NieR is probably my favourite game of all time, Automata fails to be good at every turn by comparison. It's an extremely average action game and an awful sequel, lacking everything that made the original an amazing experience.
Amazing game. One of the best in the past ten years and one of my favorite games of all time. A labor of love from Yoko Taro filled with emotion that brands you in a way few games could. A master class in story telling. It succeeded gameplay wise where the original Nier failed. Amazing effort from platinum and Yoko Taro. Everyone should experience this at least once.
This game wasn't expected to sell a million, things lookin good
Awesome game, loved every minute of it. May have sold more if there wasn't so many other great games released in same year.
If it wasn't for the Bayonetta games this would be my favorite Platinum title. I remember thinking the premise of the original NieR was interesting and liked what I saw from lets plays but never got around to trying. NieR: Automata I gave a chance after the great reviews and recommendations from friends. Glad I did so. Hopefully we'll see more from this series.
@PS_Nation
If rumors are to believed, MS is going to front the money for Vanquish 2. At this point I don't care how it happens, I just hope it does.
I’ve been waiting AGES for this game to be discounted on the PS store. Can’t wait to play!
@Splints yeah I know that the numbers aren't bad for a niche. Yet, kind'a thought it passed these numbers already last time it was reported. I just don't recall what numbers it were. Nevertheless my buddies keep talking 'bout this game day in day out. So it's good to see it sold well enough.
Lol Square definitely lowered their expectation by a bunch meanwhile.
@JAMes-BroWWWn ah, yup I definately read what you said the first time differently than what you had meant... And I agree with you. This game seems to get nothing but praise and good press and definately both seemed to have sold more and should have sold more in its first year.
I just hope the success allows them to follow up with another great game in the series.
@Gamer83 Sigh, I always wanted Sony to fund the sequel, a lost opportunity for them. The amazing Bayonetta now belongs to Nintendo, Sony should have Vanquish at least.
Congrats to Nier Automata on earning so many sales.
I own the game, but forcing myself to play Drakengard 1-3 and Nier first.
@PS_Nation
If other rumors are to be believed, Sony landed Devil May Cry 5. I guess we'll find out what's going on at E3 but I like that all of the big 3 are getting aggressive and making stuff happen that may not have otherwise, even if it means a few niche franchises miss the PlayStation.
@Shigurui OG NieR
Thanks for your comments. That's kind of the impression I had playing the sequel, nothing like the orignal, but all I've seen on here were rave reviews so I was starting to think it must just be me.
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