‘NieR: Automata’ Release Date Announced at Tokyo Game Show

During Sony’s press conference at the Tokyo Game Show, they debuted a new trailer for Nier: Automata which revealed the release date.

The highly anticipated third-person action RPG from PlatinumGames and Square Enix has been in development since 2014, and it is set in the world of cult title NieR, which was a 2010 spin-off of the Drakengard series. The story takes place in the distant future after Earth has been invaded by alien life forms wielding weapons previously unknown by mankind, known as “bio-machines”.  Humans have taken refuge on the moon and manufactured an army of androids to take back their planet, including a new state-of-the-art infantry unit known as the “YorHa”. As the fierce battle between androids and bio-machines rages on, long-buried secrets will be uncovered.

There are multiple playable characters to explore the open-world environment with, including some familiar faces from NieR, and will be able to unlock new ones with each playthrough. The main protagonist is YorHa 2B, a female-appearing android that can be seen wearing goggles that obscure most of her face. These goggles actually display information for her, and there is reportedly an important story behind why her eyes are covered. Similarly to NieR, the sequel will be more RPG-oriented with a focus on melee weapons, although there will be some shooting elements.

NieR wasn’t a huge success aside from its cult following, but the addition of PlatinumGames’s combat expertise makes this follow-up look altogether more thrilling and memorable. According to PC Gamer, Nier: Automata is not necessarily more action-oriented than its predecessor, but what action is there will look far superior.

The game is scheduled to release on February 23, 2017 for PlayStation 4 and PC.