‘Nier’ Remaster Announced For PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

2010's phenomenal cult classic Nier is getting a remaster - or more specifically. the Japanese-exclusive NieR Replicant is. Which will be great news indeed for anyone who loved 2017's NieR:Automata - i.e. us, given it's one of our games of the decade - as now they'll be able to explore this series further. Set in an apocalyptic future, Nier tells the story of a man trying to cure his sister of a terrible disease, but as the game unfolds, he uncovers a mind-blowing reality.

Made by visionary director Yoko Taro (Drakengard/NieR:Automata), producer Yosuke Saito (DRAGON QUEST X/NieR:Automata) and composer Keiichi Okabe (TEKKEN/Drakengard/NieR:Automata), Nier earned its reputation as a game truly like no other, so it's high time we saw a re-release.

The original Nier was available in two versions, but only one came to the West. NieR Replicant ver1.22474487139, as it is officially titled, will mark the first time the Japan-only game comes to the rest of the world. It differs from the original Western version (named NieR Gestalt in Japan) by making the eponymous protagonist a younger man caring for his sister, instead of a father caring for his daughter.

Originally an offshoot of the Drakengard series, Nier went on to produce a sequel, the Square Enix-published NieR:Automata, which achieved critical acclaim and far outsold its predecessor. If you've not played Automata yet then you're in luck as the game is coming to Game Pass on April 2nd as the DLC-included 'Become As Gods Edition'. Don't worry, you don't need to have played the prequel to appreciate this immersive, emotional, hack-and-slash RPG from the action-master developers of PlatinumGames.

The Nier franchise has enjoyed continued success since the release of Automata, with one of its playable protagonists 2B making several cameo appearances in other works - such as Soulcalibur VI - and a series of live performances of the game's music held around the world - including in London, where we caught it.

There's also a mobile game on the way, NieR Reincarnation, a free-to-play RPG for iOS and Android. No other details are available at this time, but there is a trailer, which you can check out above.

Topics: Square Enix