<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2017	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
by	O
PlatinumGames	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Square	O
Enix	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
Nier	B-Application
(	O
2010	O
)	O
,	O
itself	O
a	O
spin-off	O
of	O
and	O
sequel	O
to	O
the	O
Drakengard	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
was	O
originally	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
Windows	O
via	O
Steam	B-Application
,	O
and	O
an	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
port	O
published	O
the	O
following	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
port	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
is	O
set	O
during	O
a	O
proxy	O
war	O
between	O
alien-created	O
Machines	O
and	O
human-crafted	O
androids	B-Application
,	O
focusing	O
on	O
the	O
actions	O
of	O
combat	O
android	B-Application
2B	O
,	O
scanner	O
android	B-Application
9S	O
,	O
and	O
rogue	O
prototype	O
A2	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
combines	O
role-playing	O
elements	O
with	O
action-based	O
hack-and-slash	B-Application
combat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Production	O
began	O
in	O
2014	O
,	O
with	O
series	O
creator	O
Yoko	O
Taro	O
,	O
producer	O
Yosuke	O
Saito	O
,	O
and	O
lead	O
composer	O
Keiichi	O
Okabe	O
reprising	O
their	O
roles	O
in	O
Nier	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Akihiko	O
Yoshida	O
,	O
known	O
for	O
his	O
work	O
in	O
the	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
series	O
,	O
led	O
character	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
goal	O
was	O
to	O
make	O
a	O
sequel	O
game	O
that	O
would	O
be	O
faithful	O
to	O
Nier	B-Application
while	O
improving	O
the	O
combat	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
at	O
E3	O
2015	O
;	O
it	O
received	O
stage	O
plays	O
and	O
novels	O
expanding	O
its	O
narrative	O
,	O
and	O
both	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
and	O
crossovers	O
with	O
other	O
games	O
were	O
issued	O
after	O
its	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
localized	O
by	O
8-4	O
,	O
translators	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
is	O
an	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
game	I-Application
(	O
ARPG	B-Application
)	O
in	O
which	O
players	O
explore	O
an	O
open	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Combat	O
uses	O
a	O
real-time	O
action-based	O
hack	B-Application
and	I-Application
slash	I-Application
system	O
,	O
using	O
both	O
light	O
and	O
heavy	O
attacks	O
and	O
combining	O
them	O
into	O
different	O
combination	O
attacks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
additional	O
endings	O
,	O
which	O
act	O
as	O
game	B-Application
over	I-Application
events	O
,	O
are	O
triggered	O
by	O
performing	O
certain	O
actions	O
,	O
failing	O
to	O
progress	O
the	O
narrative	O
,	O
or	O
losing	O
certain	O
battles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
,	O
which	O
shares	O
the	O
post-apocalyptic	O
setting	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
takes	O
place	O
thousands	O
of	O
years	O
after	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
's	O
events	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nier	B-Application
fictional	O
universe	O
exists	O
in	O
an	O
alternative	O
timeline	O
within	O
the	O
Drakengard	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
carrying	O
over	O
the	O
Drakengard	B-Application
tradition	O
of	O
a	O
dark	O
atmosphere	O
and	O
branching	O
storylines	O
,	O
there	O
is	O
no	O
direct	O
narrative	O
connection	O
between	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
and	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
is	O
set	O
in	O
11945	O
AD	O
,	O
and	O
revolves	O
around	O
a	O
proxy	O
war	O
between	O
the	O
human-made	O
androids	B-Application
and	O
an	O
invading	O
army	O
of	O
Machines	O
from	O
another	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
they	O
lack	O
emotions	O
and	O
true	O
names	O
,	O
each	O
android	B-Application
has	O
a	O
distinct	O
personality	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
"	O
YoRHa	O
"	O
android	B-Application
forces	O
are	O
commanded	O
from	O
the	O
Bunker	O
,	O
a	O
reconnaissance	O
base	O
that	O
orbits	O
Earth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fending	O
off	O
the	O
Machines	O
,	O
the	O
YoRHA	O
forces	O
fight	O
alongside	O
pre-YoRHa	O
Earth	O
androids	B-Application
known	O
as	O
the	O
Resistance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2	O
Type	O
B	O
"	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
YoRHa	O
combat	O
android	B-Application
whose	O
main	O
traits	O
are	O
her	O
calm	O
and	O
composure	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2B	O
is	O
accompanied	O
by	O
9S	O
(	O
short	O
for	O
YoRHa	O
No.9	O
Type	O
S	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
male	O
"	O
scanner	O
"	O
reconnaissance	O
android	B-Application
who	O
displays	O
more	O
emotion	O
than	O
other	O
YoRHa	O
units	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
later	O
introduces	O
another	O
player	O
character	O
named	O
A2	O
,	O
an	O
obsolete	O
attack	O
android	B-Application
who	O
often	O
acts	O
alone	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
androids	B-Application
are	O
supported	O
by	O
Pod	O
042	O
and	O
Pod	O
153	O
,	O
floating	O
,	O
box-like	O
robots	O
that	O
act	O
as	O
ranged	O
weapons	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
characters	O
include	O
the	O
Commander	O
,	O
YoRHa	O
's	O
top	O
officer	O
;	O
the	O
resistance	O
leader	O
Anemone	O
;	O
Pascal	O
,	O
a	O
machine	O
who	O
dislikes	O
conflict	O
and	O
wishes	O
for	O
peace	O
;	O
Devola	O
and	O
Popola	O
,	O
early	O
androids	B-Application
who	O
suffer	O
discrimination	O
from	O
the	O
actions	O
of	O
their	O
model	O
series	O
;	O
and	O
the	O
original	O
Nier	B-Application
character	O
Emil	O
,	O
who	O
has	O
lost	O
his	O
memories	O
in	O
the	O
intervening	O
years	O
after	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
is	O
told	O
across	O
multiple	O
playthroughs	O
and	O
alternating	O
character	O
perspectives	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
and	O
second	O
playthroughs	O
follow	O
the	O
respective	O
viewpoints	O
of	O
2B	O
and	O
9S	O
during	O
the	O
latest	O
android	B-Application
strikes	O
against	O
the	O
Machines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2B	O
and	O
9S	O
also	O
encounter	O
A2	O
,	O
a	O
rogue	O
YoRHa	O
android	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
YoRHa	O
perpetuates	O
the	O
myth	O
of	O
their	O
survival	O
to	O
maintain	O
morale	O
and	O
give	O
androids	B-Application
a	O
"	O
god	O
"	O
to	O
fight	O
for	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
9S	O
is	O
chosen	O
,	O
the	O
two	O
androids	B-Application
kill	O
each	O
other	O
;	O
in	O
his	O
final	O
moments	O
,	O
he	O
is	O
offered	O
the	O
option	O
of	O
joining	O
with	O
the	O
now-peaceful	O
Machine	O
Network	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
tower	O
has	O
changed	O
its	O
function	O
to	O
launch	O
an	O
ark	O
containing	O
the	O
Machine	O
memories	O
to	O
find	O
a	O
new	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Devola	O
and	O
Popola	O
were	O
ostracized	O
and	O
programmed	O
to	O
feel	O
endless	O
guilt	O
after	O
their	O
model	O
series	O
caused	O
humanity	O
's	O
extinction	O
in	O
Nier	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
stay	O
at	O
the	O
Resistance	O
camp	O
doing	O
the	O
riskier	O
jobs	O
,	O
and	O
aid	O
the	O
YoRHa	O
androids	B-Application
until	O
helping	O
9S	O
at	O
the	O
tower	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
director	O
Yoko	O
Taro	O
and	O
Square	O
Enix	O
producer	O
Yosuke	O
Saito	O
wanted	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
sequel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Saito	O
spoke	O
to	O
assistant	O
producer	O
Yuki	O
Yokoyama	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
unwilling	O
due	O
to	O
low	O
sales	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
positive	O
fan	O
reception	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
however	O
,	O
both	O
Square	O
Enix	O
and	O
the	O
lead	O
staff	O
who	O
worked	O
on	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
were	O
willing	O
to	O
continue	O
the	O
Nier	B-Application
intellectual	O
property	O
(	O
IP	O
)	O
but	O
wanted	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
better	O
,	O
more-action-oriented	O
gameplay	O
experience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
contacted	O
PlatinumGames	O
,	O
which	O
had	O
developed	O
a	O
reputation	O
for	O
high-quality	O
action	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Bayonetta	B-Application
(	O
2009	O
)	O
and	O
Metal	B-Application
Gear	I-Application
Rising	I-Application
:	I-Application
Revengeance	I-Application
(	O
2013	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Yoko	O
was	O
initially	O
uneasy	O
about	O
the	O
collaboration	O
,	O
he	O
became	O
confident	O
in	O
PlatinumGames	O
due	O
to	O
their	O
excitement	O
to	O
work	O
on	O
a	O
Nier	B-Application
game	O
,	O
and	O
their	O
promise	O
to	O
remain	O
faithful	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Designer	O
Takahisa	O
Taura	O
also	O
joined	O
the	O
team	O
due	O
to	O
his	O
long-time	O
desire	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
Nier	B-Application
sequel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Initially	O
,	O
Yoko	O
said	O
they	O
planned	O
to	O
build	O
a	O
FarmVille	B-Application
(	O
2009	O
)	O
-inspired	O
game	O
for	O
mobile	B-Application
platforms	O
or	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
instead	O
shifted	O
development	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
studied	O
feedback	O
from	O
both	O
fans	O
and	O
critical	O
reviews	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
and	O
concluded	O
they	O
would	O
need	O
to	O
improve	O
the	O
gameplay	O
,	O
graphics	O
,	O
and	O
character	O
designs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
also	O
carried	O
over	O
aspects	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
that	O
were	O
well-received	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
music	O
and	O
complex	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yoko	O
was	O
supported	O
by	O
sub-writers	O
Yoshiho	O
Akabane	O
from	O
the	O
company	O
Highestar	O
,	O
and	O
Hana	O
Kikuchi	O
,	O
who	O
worked	O
on	O
Nier	B-Application
and	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
(	O
2013	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
creating	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
story	O
,	O
Yoko	O
was	O
hesitant	O
about	O
adding	O
Devola	O
and	O
Popola	O
due	O
to	O
their	O
role	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
but	O
he	O
later	O
decided	O
to	O
include	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Yoko	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
scenario	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
is	O
"	O
wet	O
"	O
in	O
its	O
emotional	O
content	O
,	O
he	O
wanted	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
to	O
have	O
a	O
"	O
dry	O
"	O
narrative	O
about	O
confronting	O
prejudice	O
and	O
unfairness	O
in	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
wanted	O
to	O
leave	O
more	O
room	O
for	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
interpret	O
the	O
story	O
,	O
feeling	O
he	O
had	O
gone	O
too	O
far	O
when	O
humanizing	O
the	O
antagonists	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
and	O
decided	O
to	O
strike	O
a	O
different	O
balance	O
in	O
the	O
sequel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Saito	O
,	O
a	O
lot	O
of	O
time	O
and	O
effort	O
went	O
into	O
creating	O
the	O
story	O
and	O
character	O
interactions	O
so	O
they	O
would	O
match	O
those	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
the	O
original	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
multiple	O
endings	O
were	O
created	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
conditions	O
for	O
reaching	O
them	O
were	O
not	O
as	O
stringent	O
as	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
also	O
included	O
the	O
option	O
for	O
player	O
to	O
sacrifice	O
their	O
save	O
data	O
to	O
aid	O
other	O
random	O
players	O
in	O
the	O
closing	O
credit	O
sequence	O
,	O
a	O
mechanic	O
similar	O
to	O
that	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Nier	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yoko	O
used	O
the	O
androids	B-Application
 '	O
and	O
Machines	O
 '	O
reverence	O
for	O
the	O
long-extinct	O
humanity	O
to	O
show	O
how	O
people	O
's	O
sense	O
of	O
self	O
and	O
worth	O
is	O
necessarily	O
founded	O
on	O
belief	O
in	O
something	O
else	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
was	O
Taura	O
's	O
first	O
role-playing	O
game	O
(	O
RPG	O
)	O
,	O
with	O
his	O
prior	O
experience	O
focused	O
on	O
action	O
game	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Negishi	O
and	O
lead	O
programmer	O
Ryo	O
Onishi	O
,	O
creating	O
a	O
game	O
that	O
was	O
faithful	O
to	O
Nier	B-Application
was	O
difficult	O
and	O
required	O
a	O
change	O
from	O
the	O
style	O
of	O
their	O
earlier	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
combat	O
system	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
took	O
the	O
systems	O
used	O
in	O
Nier	B-Application
and	O
blended	O
in	O
elements	O
from	O
other	O
titles	O
by	O
PlatinumGames	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
designing	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
RPG	O
elements	O
,	O
the	O
staff	O
at	O
PlatinumGames	O
were	O
partially	O
inspired	O
by	O
The	B-Application
Witcher	I-Application
3	I-Application
:	I-Application
Wild	I-Application
Hunt	I-Application
(	O
2015	O
)	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
high	O
standard	O
of	O
its	O
sidequests	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
sections	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
in	O
which	O
the	O
perspective	O
shifts	O
to	O
a	O
side-scrolling	O
perspective	O
were	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
Castlevania	B-Application
series	O
,	O
of	O
which	O
Taura	O
was	O
a	O
fan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
make	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
beginner-friendly	O
,	O
the	O
perspective	O
was	O
designed	O
to	O
automatically	O
assume	O
"	O
comfortable	O
"	O
angles	O
during	O
combat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
the	O
studio	O
's	O
first	O
attempt	O
at	O
an	O
open	O
world	O
;	O
while	O
its	O
previous	O
titles	O
had	O
used	O
a	O
story-driven	O
linear	O
structure	O
,	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
has	O
large	O
environments	O
that	O
are	O
linked	O
with	O
seamless	O
transitions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
plug-in	O
chips	O
are	O
an	O
updated	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
Words	O
used	O
in	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
and	O
are	O
themed	O
around	O
the	O
premise	O
of	O
androids	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Saito	O
originally	O
wanted	O
to	O
bring	O
back	O
D.K	O
,	O
the	O
character	O
designer	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
but	O
D.K	O
had	O
broken	O
his	O
elbow	O
and	O
was	O
unable	O
to	O
draw	O
,	O
so	O
he	O
recommended	O
Yoshida	O
for	O
the	O
post	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
developers	O
thought	O
Yoshida	O
would	O
be	O
too	O
busy	O
to	O
contribute	O
,	O
but	O
he	O
was	O
willing	O
to	O
join	O
the	O
project	O
due	O
to	O
fans	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
working	O
at	O
his	O
company	O
,	O
CyDesignation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
which	O
has	O
two	O
different	O
protagonist	O
designs	O
for	O
different	O
markets	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
committed	O
to	O
a	O
high-quality	O
JRPG	O
character	O
design	O
that	O
would	O
be	O
consistent	O
across	O
regions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Composer	O
Keiichi	O
Okabe	O
,	O
who	O
worked	O
on	O
both	O
Nier	B-Application
and	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
worked	O
on	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
as	O
lead	O
composer	O
with	O
other	O
members	O
of	O
his	O
studio	O
band	O
Monaca	O
;	O
Keigo	O
Hoashi	O
,	O
Kuniyuki	O
Takahashi	O
,	O
and	O
Kakeru	O
Ishihama	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
score	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
influenced	O
by	O
classical	O
music	O
,	O
recalls	O
elements	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
such	O
as	O
that	O
game	O
's	O
sense	O
of	O
melancholy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whereas	O
Nier	B-Application
is	O
built	O
around	O
grasslands	O
and	O
villages	O
,	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
includes	O
a	O
more	O
mechanical	O
and	O
brutal	O
environment	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
reflected	O
in	O
the	O
musical	O
score	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
music	O
was	O
balanced	O
using	O
the	O
digital	B-General_Concept
audio	I-General_Concept
workstation	I-General_Concept
(	O
DAW	O
)	O
Pro	B-Application
Tools	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Emi	O
Evans	O
provided	O
vocals	O
for	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
,	O
as	O
she	O
had	O
done	O
for	O
Nier	B-Application
soundtrack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
songs	O
from	O
the	O
Nier	B-Application
soundtrack	O
were	O
adapted	O
for	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
soundtrack	O
album	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
March	O
29	O
,	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
company	O
8-4	O
,	O
which	O
had	O
localized	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
also	O
localized	O
the	O
English-language	O
version	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
8-4	O
had	O
worked	O
with	O
Yoko	O
on	O
Nier	B-Application
and	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
they	O
were	O
familiar	O
with	O
his	O
writing	O
style	O
and	O
found	O
it	O
easy	O
to	O
ask	O
for	O
clarification	O
during	O
translation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
8-4	O
'	O
s	O
biggest	O
challenge	O
was	O
translating	O
the	O
android	B-Application
dialogue	O
,	O
as	O
it	O
was	O
difficult	O
to	O
balance	O
their	O
purported	O
emotionlessness	O
with	O
their	O
highly	O
emotional	O
relationships	O
and	O
distinct	O
personalities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cup	O
of	O
Tea	O
Productions	O
,	O
which	O
had	O
worked	O
on	O
both	O
Nier	B-Application
and	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
handled	O
English	O
dubbing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2014	O
,	O
after	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Drakengard	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
Yoko	O
expressed	O
an	O
interest	O
in	O
making	O
a	O
second	O
spin-off	O
from	O
the	O
Drakengard	B-Application
series	O
but	O
did	O
not	O
specify	O
whether	O
it	O
would	O
be	O
related	O
to	O
Nier	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
was	O
first	O
announced	O
at	O
Square	O
Enix	O
's	O
press	O
conference	O
at	O
E3	O
2015	O
under	O
the	O
provisional	O
title	O
Nier	B-Application
New	I-Application
Project	I-Application
,	O
with	O
staff	O
later	O
confirming	O
it	O
was	O
10%	O
complete	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Square	O
Enix	O
worked	O
with	O
Japanese	O
rock	O
band	O
Amazarashi	O
,	O
lead	O
singer	O
Hiromu	O
Akita	O
was	O
a	O
fan	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
to	O
produce	O
a	O
promotional	O
song	O
called	O
"	O
Inochi	O
ni	O
Fusawashii	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yoko	O
originally	O
wanted	O
to	O
call	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
Nier	B-Application
:	O
Android	B-Application
"	O
but	O
Square	O
Enix	O
rejected	O
that	O
title	O
due	O
to	O
a	O
possible	O
trademark	O
conflict	O
with	O
Google	B-Application
's	I-Application
Android	I-Application
operating	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
mitigate	O
competition	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
decided	O
to	O
delay	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
until	O
late-2016	O
or	O
early	O
2017	O
,	O
which	O
also	O
allowed	O
the	O
team	O
more	O
time	O
to	O
refine	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
February	O
23	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
coming	O
in	O
both	O
standard	O
editions	O
and	O
a	O
Black	O
Box	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PS4	B-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
on	O
March	O
7	O
;	O
and	O
in	O
Europe	O
,	O
Australia	O
,	O
and	O
New	O
Zealand	O
on	O
March	O
10	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
Windows	O
personal	O
computers	O
(	O
PCs	O
)	O
through	O
Steam	B-Application
on	O
March	O
17	O
,	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Saito	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
a	O
version	O
for	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
was	O
being	O
considered	O
,	O
but	O
later	O
said	O
it	O
would	O
not	O
be	O
developed	O
due	O
to	O
low	O
Xbox	B-Device
hardware	O
sales	O
in	O
Japan	O
and	O
the	O
wish	O
to	O
focus	O
on	O
a	O
single	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
version	O
was	O
later	O
released	O
worldwide	O
on	O
June	O
26	O
,	O
2018	O
;	O
this	O
version	O
was	O
subtitled	O
Become	O
as	O
Gods	O
Edition	O
,	O
with	O
QLOC	O
porting	O
this	O
version	O
to	O
Windows	O
for	O
the	B-Application
Microsoft	I-Application
Store	I-Application
and	O
Xbox	B-Application
Game	I-Application
Pass	I-Application
on	O
March	O
18	O
,	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
port	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
October	O
6	O
,	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Saito	O
requested	O
a	O
Switch	O
port	O
to	O
celebrate	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
fifth	O
anniversary	O
after	O
being	O
impressed	O
by	O
Astral	B-Application
Chain	I-Application
(	O
2019	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
Taura	O
directed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Saito	O
was	O
comfortable	O
with	O
the	O
reduced	O
frame	O
rate	O
due	O
to	O
Astral	B-Application
Chain	I-Application
combat	O
working	O
at	O
that	O
frame	O
rate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
Yoko	O
's	O
request	O
,	O
more	O
costumes	O
and	O
items	O
were	O
included	O
,	O
some	O
themed	O
after	O
the	O
mobile	B-Application
game	I-Application
Nier	B-Application
Reincarnation	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
pack	O
titled	O
3C3C1D119440927	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
May	O
2	O
,	O
2017	O
;	O
it	O
includes	O
additional	O
costumes	O
and	O
accessories	O
based	O
on	O
Nier	B-Application
,	O
aesthetic	O
hair-customization	O
options	O
,	O
new	O
battle	O
colosseums	O
,	O
and	O
boss	O
fights	O
with	O
Square	O
Enix	O
and	O
PlatinumGames	O
presidents	O
Yosuke	O
Matsuda	O
and	O
Kenichi	O
Sato	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DLC	B-Protocol
was	O
included	O
in	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
and	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
releases	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
the	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
YoRHa	O
Edition	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
Windows	O
on	O
February	O
26	O
,	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
PS4	B-Operating_System
release	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
"	O
on	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
Metacritic	O
based	O
on	O
101	O
critic	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
version	O
received	O
"	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
"	O
,	O
earning	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
90	O
from	O
30	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Japanese	O
gaming	O
magazine	O
Famitsu	O
gave	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
a	O
near-perfect	O
score	O
,	O
lauding	O
most	O
aspects	O
of	O
it	O
including	O
the	O
themes	O
and	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sullivan	O
called	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
"	O
a	O
crazy	O
,	O
beautiful	O
,	O
and	O
highly	O
entertaining	O
journey	O
full	O
of	O
nutty	O
ideas	O
and	O
awesome	O
gameplay	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Miguel	O
Concepcion	O
of	O
GameSpot	O
praised	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
elements	O
,	O
referring	O
to	O
its	O
gameplay	O
as	O
"	O
the	O
closest	O
thing	O
there	O
is	O
to	O
a	O
spiritual	O
successor	O
to	O
Metal	B-Application
Gear	I-Application
Rising	I-Application
:	I-Application
Revengeance	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Matulef	O
called	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
"	O
the	O
most	O
captivating	O
game	O
I	O
've	O
played	O
in	O
ages	O
"	O
despite	O
rough	O
edges	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
Meghan	O
Sullivan	O
of	O
IGN	O
and	O
Eurogamers	O
Jeffrey	O
Matulef	O
found	O
it	O
difficult	O
to	O
relate	O
to	O
the	O
android	B-Application
protagonists	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
sold	O
over	O
198,500	O
copies	O
during	O
its	O
first	O
week	O
of	O
release	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
peaking	O
at	O
number	O
one	O
in	O
the	O
charts	O
and	O
significantly	O
exceeding	O
sales	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
in	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2017	O
,	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
was	O
reported	O
to	O
have	O
sold	O
over	O
500,000	O
copies	O
in	O
Japan	O
and	O
Asia	O
,	O
including	O
both	O
physical	O
shipments	O
and	O
downloads	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
the	O
NPD	O
Group	O
report	O
for	O
March	O
2017	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
reached	O
ninth	O
place	O
in	O
overall	O
sales	O
and	O
sixth	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
PS4	B-Operating_System
chart	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
May	O
2017	O
,	O
sales	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
physical	O
and	O
download	O
versions	O
on	O
PS4	B-Operating_System
and	O
PC	O
had	O
reached	O
1.5	O
million	O
copies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
majority	O
of	O
sales	O
during	O
that	O
period	O
came	O
from	O
overseas	O
,	O
and	O
its	O
success	O
came	O
as	O
a	O
surprise	O
compared	O
to	O
the	O
low	O
sales	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
May	O
2019	O
,	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
had	O
reached	O
worldwide	O
shipments	O
of	O
four	O
million	O
copies	O
,	O
with	O
an	O
additional	O
500,000	O
units	O
selling	O
by	O
March	O
2020	O
;	O
the	O
latter	O
was	O
attributed	O
to	O
steady	O
sales	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
YoRHa	O
"	O
edition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
greatly	O
exceeded	O
Square	O
Enix	O
's	O
sales	O
expectations	O
,	O
and	O
made	O
them	O
consider	O
Nier	B-Application
as	O
a	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
November	O
2022	O
,	O
all	O
versions	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
have	O
shipped	O
over	O
seven	O
million	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
six-month	O
pre-production	O
period	O
,	O
Yoko	O
created	O
a	O
musical	O
stage	O
play	O
called	O
YoRHa	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
performed	O
in	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
in	O
the	O
same	O
universe	O
as	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
,	O
it	O
acts	O
as	O
a	O
backstory	O
for	O
the	O
characters	O
A2	O
and	O
Anemone	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
stage	O
play	O
predates	O
the	O
revelation	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
,	O
the	O
play	O
's	O
writer	O
Asakusa	O
Kaoru	O
stated	O
it	O
would	O
not	O
exist	O
without	O
Yoko	O
's	O
vision	O
for	O
the	O
world	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Multiple	O
novels	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
in-game	O
universe	O
were	O
written	O
by	O
Yoko	O
and	O
Jun	O
Eishima	O
,	O
a	O
regular	O
collaborator	O
for	O
supplementary	O
material	O
related	O
to	O
the	O
Drakengard	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Black	O
Box	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
included	O
a	O
novella	O
retelling	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
from	O
the	O
perspectives	O
of	O
characters	O
Devola	O
and	O
Popola	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Short	O
Story	O
Long	O
is	O
a	O
compilation	O
of	O
earlier	O
short	O
stories	O
in	O
the	O
Nier	B-Application
continuity	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
new	O
stories	O
related	O
to	O
the	O
characters	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
fifth	O
anniversary	O
livestream	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
,	O
an	O
anime	O
television	O
series	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
announced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
series	O
,	O
the	O
title	O
of	O
which	O
is	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
Ver1.1a	O
,	O
premiered	O
on	O
January	O
7	O
,	O
2023	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
October	O
2018	O
,	O
2B	O
was	O
announced	O
as	O
a	O
playable	O
guest	O
character	O
DLC	B-Protocol
for	O
Bandai	O
Namco	O
's	O
fighting	O
game	O
Soulcalibur	B-Application
VI	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Released	O
on	O
December	O
19	O
,	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
includes	O
unique	O
weapons	O
and	O
abilities	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
alternative	O
white	O
variation	O
called	O
"	O
2P	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Characters	O
from	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
were	O
incorporated	O
into	O
a	O
content	O
patch	O
for	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
DLC	B-Protocol
costumes	O
and	O
promotional	O
appearances	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
characters	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
have	O
also	O
appeared	O
in	O
third-party	O
games	O
Gravity	B-Application
Rush	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
2017	O
)	O
,	O
Star	B-Application
Ocean	I-Application
:	I-Application
Anamnesis	I-Application
(	O
2018	O
)	O
,	O
Phantasy	B-Protocol
Star	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
(	O
2020	O
)	O
,	O
Fall	B-Application
Guys	I-Application
(	O
2020	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Tom	B-Application
Clancy	I-Application
's	I-Application
Rainbow	I-Application
Six	I-Application
Siege	I-Application
(	O
2022	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
