- NieR: Automata developers expected the game to sell around 750K-1million copies.
- However, the game has sold 9 million copies to date, 10 times more than expected.
- This is impressive, considering the game was developed in just over 2 years with a minimal budget.
PlatinumGames outdid themselves with NieR: Automata, creating one of the best RPGs and saving the Japanese gaming industry at its all-time low.
Its success even surprised its developers, who didn’t believe the game would perform well. However, NieR: Automata sold 10 times more than expected.
Why it matters: PlatinumGames is now considered a pioneer in the Japanese gaming industry, having created some of the best RPGs, and NieR: Automata is just one of the successes in their books.
Yosuke Saito, producer of the game, and Yoko Taro, its director, sat down for an interview to discuss the release of NieR: Automata. Yoko Taro expected the game to sell 750k copies, twice what the first NieR game sold, while Yosuke Saito set the bar for a million copies.
However, both their expectations were shattered as NieR: Automata has now surpassed the 9 million sales mark. This is more surprising considering that the game was developed in a little over 2 years and had a very minimal budget from Square Enix.

Despite such a massive success for an AA title, NieR hasn’t seen a new mainline entry in over 8 years. NieR: Reincarnation was released in 2021 but was a mobile title.
However, a new entry may be on the horizon and set for a reveal this year. The series will celebrate its 15th anniversary on April 19 with a new event. The producer, Yousuke Saito, has practically confirmed a new entry, and it’s exciting to see where NieR will head.
What are your thoughts on NieR’s success? What do you expect from the following entry, with the bar now set so high? Let us know in the comments below or head towards the official Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[News Reporter]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
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