So, remember that website that went up for NieR‘s 10th anniversary? Turns out that as part of the celebration, we’ll be getting an upgraded version of the first game that the West never got back in 2010, NieR Replicant!
The game was revealed through a teaser trailer that consisted of concept art and text. No release date was given, but the title will be coming to the PS4, Xbox One and Steam. The series’ mainstays in director Yoko Taro, composer Keiichi Okabe, and Square Enix producer Yosuke Saito will be in charge of the project, with Toylogic handling development — a studio that previously assisted in the development of The Evil Within.
Speaking with Famitsu, according to Saito, NieR Replicant isn’t being considered a remake or remaster, but a “version upgrade.” New additions/changes to the original game include:
- a re-recorded soundtrack, including new songs
- new elements for returning players
- a new character
- fully-voiced dialogue, though it’s not known if this is strictly for the Japanese version
Also announced was NieR Re[in]carnation for iOS and Android. It is produced by Yosuke Saito, directed by Yoko Taro, developed by Applibot, and features character design by Akihiko Yoshida, with concept art by Kazuma Koda.
NieR originally launched in Japan as two separate titles back in April 2010. Replicant was released on the PlayStation 3, while the Xbox 360 received a version dubbed Gestalt, which became the only form of the game the West would receive on either platform. Both games followed the same story outline, but on different timelines, and with different versions of its protagonist, Nier.
The sequel, the Platinum Games-developed NieR: Automata, launched for PlayStation 4 in February 2017, PC in March 2017, and Xbox One in June 2018.