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Entertainment • Video Games

NieR: Automata

NieR: Automata is a 2017 action role-playing video game developed by PlatinumGames and published by Square Enix.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

NieR: Automata is a 2017 action role-playing video game developed by PlatinumGames and published by Square Enix. It is a sequel to NieR and is set in a post-apocalyptic future where androids fight alien-created machines in a proxy war. The game follows combat android 2B, scanner android 9S, and prototype A2.

Gameplay

NieR: Automata is an action role-playing game that combines real-time combat with exploration. It features an open world and follows a single-player structure.

Plot and setting

The story takes place in a distant, post-apocalyptic future on Earth after humanity has left the planet. Androids created by humans fight machine lifeforms created by alien invaders in a prolonged proxy war.

Development and release

The game was developed by PlatinumGames and published by Square Enix. It launched in 2017 and was later released on additional platforms including Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

Reception and legacy

NieR: Automata became the best-known entry in the NieR series and helped broaden interest in the franchise. Its success also led to other related media, including an anime adaptation of the same setting.

Key facts

  • NieR: Automata is a sequel to NieR, which is itself a spin-off of the Drakengard series.
  • The game was first released in 2017 for PlayStation 4 and Windows.
  • The story centers on YoRHa androids 2B, 9S, and A2.
  • The setting is a war between human-made androids and alien-created Machine Lifeforms.
  • The game is designed as an action role-playing game with open-world exploration.
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Canadian context

The game is widely available in Canada through major console and PC platforms, and its publisher Square Enix has a substantial Canadian audience among action RPG fans.

Frequently asked questions

What is NieR: Automata?
It is a 2017 action role-playing video game developed by PlatinumGames and published by Square Enix.
Is NieR: Automata a sequel?
Yes. It is a sequel to NieR, which is part of the Drakengard franchise.
Who are the main characters?
The story primarily follows 2B, 9S, and A2, three androids connected to the YoRHa combat force.
What platforms is it on?
It originally released on PlayStation 4 and Windows, and later appeared on Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
What is the game’s setting?
It is set on Earth in a distant future after humanity has been driven away, with androids fighting machines in a proxy war.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nier:_Automata
    Supports: Developer, publisher, genre, platforms, release year, sequel status, main characters, and setting.
  2. Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21078985
    Supports: Canonical title and identification as a 2017 action role-playing video game.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nier
    Supports: Relationship to NieR and the Drakengard series.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nier:_Automata_Ver1.1a
    Supports: Related anime adaptation and shared setting.