Games

NieR: Automata reaches 10 million units – and Square Enix ends the celebration with “to be continued”

24 February 2026
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11 min.
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NieR: Automata reaches 10 million units – and Square Enix ends the celebration with “to be continued”

Summary:

NieR: Automata crossing 10 million units is not just a nice round number – it is proof that a game can be “old” on paper and still feel alive in the real world. Square Enix marked the milestone with messaging that does two things at once: it locks in the sales achievement, and it nudges everyone to keep watching. The company confirmed the figure as a combined total that includes both shipments and digital downloads, which matters because it reflects the modern way games move across platforms and storefronts. It also keeps the message broad enough to apply to every version people are playing, whether they discovered the game years ago or only recently picked it up on a sale.

The phrase that sparked the loudest reaction is simple: “NieR: Automata to be continued.” It is exciting because it feels like a door cracking open in a quiet hallway, but it is also careful because it does not name a sequel, a release window, or even a format. That distinction is the whole story here. We can acknowledge the tease without pretending it is a signed contract for NieR 3. What we can say, clearly and safely, is that Square Enix chose to attach a continuation message to a major sales moment, and that choice is deliberate. If you love the series, that is enough to pay attention. If you hate hype cycles, it is also enough to keep your feet on the ground until something concrete shows up.

NieR: Automata hits 10 million – why this milestone matters

Ten million units is the kind of milestone that changes how a publisher talks about a series. It is not just a trophy for a slide deck – it is leverage, proof of demand, and a reminder that the audience is still here. For a game that originally launched back in 2017, this number also signals endurance. We are not looking at a one-week spike or a launch-month burst – we are looking at a long, stubborn tail of players who kept showing up, kept recommending it, and kept buying it across multiple platforms. That matters because it tells Square Enix the brand still has momentum without needing a brand-new release every year. When a game keeps moving units long after the initial spotlight fades, it becomes a reliable pillar. And when something becomes a pillar, it starts getting treated like one.

What Square Enix actually confirmed

Square Enix’s key confirmation is straightforward: NieR: Automata has surpassed 10 million units when counting shipments and digital downloads together. That phrasing is doing important work because it avoids misleading comparisons. Physical shipment numbers and digital downloads do not behave the same way, but together they paint the best “big picture” view of how widely the game has circulated. The other part that matters is what Square Enix did not do. There was no formal reveal of a new console entry, no title card for a sequel, and no dated promise that something is coming in a specific month or year. The messaging is celebratory and intentional, but it stays on the safe side of confirmation. If you want the most accurate read, we hold onto what was explicitly stated, and we treat everything else as “wait for the next signal.”

Shipments and digital downloads – what the number includes

When we say “shipments and digital downloads,” we are talking about a combined sales-style metric that is common in game reporting. Shipments typically refer to physical units sent into retail channels, while digital downloads capture purchases from online storefronts. Put together, the figure reflects broad distribution and consumer demand across years, regions, and platform ecosystems. This combined framing also matches how multi-platform games live today. Some players want a box on a shelf, others want a one-click download, and many drift between the two depending on discounts and convenience. The important takeaway is not which side is “better” – it is that Square Enix is counting everything that represents real market reach. In plain terms: a lot of people bought NieR: Automata, and the publisher is confident enough in that number to put it front and center.

Why “to be continued” is a tease, not an announcement

“To be continued” sounds like a sequel sentence because we have all been trained by cliffhangers. The problem is that the phrase is also famously flexible. It can point to a new game, a new version, a new collaboration, a new media project, or even just another celebratory beat planned for later. The responsible way to treat it is as a teaser that signals intent, not as a headline that confirms specifics. If Square Enix wanted to confirm a new console game, it could have done it with a title, a platform list, or at least a “now in development” line. None of that is present here. So we keep the interpretation grounded: Square Enix is telling the audience the NieR: Automata story, presence, or brand activity is not finished. That is meaningful, but it is not the same as naming the next product.

Where the “to be continued” message came from

The continuation line did not appear in a vacuum. It is attached to a celebratory push tied to the 10 million milestone, and it aligns with anniversary timing that naturally draws attention to the series. That combination matters because it maximizes visibility. Milestones bring in mainstream headlines, anniversaries bring in dedicated fans, and a teaser at the end keeps both groups talking. It is the classic “celebrate and extend” move – give people a satisfying reason to share the news, then add one small hook that encourages speculation and discussion. The key is that the hook is placed carefully. It does not interrupt the celebration – it caps it. That placement is what makes it feel like a wink rather than a full reveal, and it is exactly why it spread so fast across social media.

The celebratory video and anniversary timing

The message is tied to a milestone video associated with the series’ anniversary period, which is when fan attention naturally spikes. Anniversaries are a little like magnets – they pull in nostalgia, fan art, replay streams, and “remember when” conversations. A sales milestone layered onto that is even stronger because it turns sentiment into a measurable win. The end result is a moment where the audience is both emotional and attentive, which is the perfect time to drop a small tease. If you have ever watched a crowd react at the end of a concert when the lights do not fully come on, you know the feeling. People sense that something might still happen, and they stay focused. That is the function “to be continued” serves here. It keeps attention in the room.

How the message is presented on-screen

Presentation changes how a message lands, even when the words are simple. Here, the “to be continued” line appears as a final on-screen sting, which gives it the weight of a deliberate closing statement rather than a throwaway caption. It is the difference between a character whispering something as the door closes versus a narrator calmly explaining the next chapter. The on-screen format encourages pause-and-share behavior, because it is easy to screenshot, easy to repost, and easy to turn into a question. That is why it traveled quickly. A spoken tease can be misheard or paraphrased, but a clean line of text is instantly quotable. And when something is instantly quotable, the internet does the rest of the work for free.

The small details fans immediately noticed

Fans tend to latch onto details because details feel like clues. When a franchise has been quiet, even a tiny signal starts looking like a map. The key detail in this case is not a hidden logo or a coded date – it is the deliberate ambiguity. “To be continued” is clear enough to excite, but vague enough to protect whatever plan is actually in motion. That vagueness is the detail. It suggests Square Enix wants the conversation, but does not want to be pinned down yet. If you are a long-time fan, that can feel both thrilling and mildly annoying, like being handed a wrapped gift with no tag. Still, the presence of the line at all is the real data point. Companies do not typically invite follow-up questions unless they intend to feed the next beat at some point.

Why NieR: Automata keeps selling years later

NieR: Automata has the rare combination of “people loved it” and “people keep talking about why they loved it.” That second part matters more than it sounds. Games that endure usually have a story people want to discuss, music people want to replay, and moments that feel personal enough to recommend with real emotion. It is also a title that players often revisit. Some come back to re-experience the narrative structure, others chase different endings, and many recommend it to friends with the kind of intensity usually reserved for your favorite film that “you just have to see.” Add in frequent discounts, platform availability, and word-of-mouth that never really stopped, and you get a slow-burn sales engine. It is like a campfire that keeps getting new logs. Every time someone new discovers it, they become part of the reason it stays visible.

2B’s cultural gravity – crossovers, cameos, and visibility

Let’s be honest – 2B is a walking spotlight. Even people who have not played NieR: Automata often recognize her silhouette, her outfit, and the general “this character is a big deal” vibe. That recognition does not happen by accident. Over the years, 2B has shown up in collaborations and crossover appearances that keep the character in front of new audiences. Visibility works like a billboard you do not have to pay for twice – once a character becomes iconic, every new appearance refreshes the memory of the original game. That is part of why the “to be continued” message hits harder than it would for a lesser-known series. There is already a wide audience primed to react. The smartest approach is to see 2B’s reach as one of the franchise’s strongest assets. Whether the continuation is a game or something else, that cultural gravity makes it easier to launch.

What a continuation could realistically look like

“Continuation” is a broad word, and the most factual statement we can make is that Square Enix has not specified the format. That said, we can still talk realistically about the range of directions a publisher might take without pretending any single one is confirmed. A continuation could mean a new mainline game, a side project that expands the universe, a remaster-style push for older entries, or a media extension that keeps the brand active between releases. What makes this moment interesting is that the tease is attached to a sales milestone, which typically strengthens the business case for investing further. Strong performance can justify bigger bets, and it can also justify smaller, faster projects designed to keep the audience engaged. The key is patience. The teaser tells us there is intent to continue. It does not tell us what the continuation is, when it arrives, or how big it will be.

New game, new version, or new project – the range of possibilities

If we stay grounded, the range looks like this: a new console game is possible, a new edition or platform-focused push is possible, and a non-game project is also possible. All three are common in modern franchises, especially ones with strong character recognition. A new game is the biggest swing and would likely come with a proper reveal cadence. A new version or re-release strategy can arrive faster and still feel meaningful, especially if it makes access easier for new players. A broader “project” could include collaborations, events, or other media that keeps the brand present while something bigger cooks in the background. The reason this range is worth mentioning is simple – it helps us avoid tunnel vision. If you only allow yourself to imagine “sequel or nothing,” you end up disappointed by anything else, even if what arrives is genuinely cool.

What we should not assume from the teaser

We should not assume a title, we should not assume platforms, and we should not assume a release window. We also should not assume that “to be continued” means “next year,” because teasers like this can sit for a while before they turn into something concrete. It is tempting to treat every hint as a countdown timer, but that is how hype turns into frustration. The most accurate stance is to separate excitement from certainty. We can be excited that Square Enix chose to tease continuation at a major milestone. We can also be certain that no formal new console game announcement has been made yet. Holding both of those truths at once keeps the conversation fun without letting it drift into fantasy scheduling. Think of it like spotting storm clouds on the horizon. It might rain soon, but you do not start timing your walk home to the minute until you actually feel the first drops.

What to watch next if you want real confirmation

If you want confirmation, look for the signals that companies reliably use when something is real and ready to be discussed. Those signals include official announcements on owned channels, clear press materials, store pages that appear with intentional wording, and messaging that names what the project is instead of hinting at it. Another good signal is consistency – when multiple official touchpoints repeat the same claim in the same language, it is usually because communications has approved it. Until that happens, the safest approach is to treat “to be continued” as a conversation starter rather than a calendar event. It is also worth watching for franchise-related appearances in predictable industry moments where publishers like to reveal things. The key is not to chase every rumor – it is to wait for something you can quote without adding a paragraph of “maybe.” When the next step is real, Square Enix will be able to say it plainly.

How to talk about the tease without overhyping it

The healthiest way to talk about this moment is to keep the milestone and the tease in the same frame. The milestone is fully real – 10 million units, counted across shipments and digital downloads. The tease is also real – the words “NieR: Automata to be continued” appear as a deliberate closing message. What is not real, at least not yet, is any specific interpretation that claims a sequel is confirmed. So when we talk about it, we anchor ourselves to what is stated, and we describe the rest as open-ended. That approach keeps trust with the reader because it avoids the emotional whiplash of “huge news” that turns into “actually nothing.” We can still have fun with it, too. A tease is like a wink across a crowded room – it is exciting precisely because it is not a full conversation. The moment Square Enix decides it is time to talk, we will get the conversation.

Conclusion

NieR: Automata hitting 10 million units is the headline that deserves the biggest font, because it is the measurable proof of a franchise with staying power. Square Enix’s “to be continued” sting is the spark that turns celebration into anticipation, but it is also carefully non-specific. That combination is not an accident. We can take the win, enjoy the tease, and still stay honest about what is and is not confirmed. If you are a fan, this is a good moment to appreciate how rare it is for a story-driven action RPG to keep selling at this scale so many years later. If you are new, it is a good moment to understand why people keep recommending it like it is a secret they cannot keep. Either way, the smartest posture is simple: we celebrate the milestone, we note the continuation message, and we wait for Square Enix to put real details on the table.

FAQs
  • Did Square Enix confirm a new NieR console game?
    • No. Square Enix confirmed the 10 million milestone and ended a celebratory message with “NieR: Automata to be continued,” but it did not announce a specific new console game, title, or release date.
  • What does “shipments and digital downloads” mean in the 10 million figure?
    • It means the total includes physical units distributed through retail channels and digital copies purchased via online storefronts, combined into one overall milestone number.
  • Where did the “to be continued” tease appear?
    • It appeared as an on-screen message at the end of a milestone celebration tied to NieR: Automata surpassing 10 million units.
  • Is “to be continued” a guarantee of a sequel?
    • No. The phrase signals continuation but does not specify the format, scope, or timing. A sequel is one possibility, but nothing specific is confirmed by that wording alone.
  • What should we look for next to know what’s actually coming?
    • Look for an official announcement that names the project clearly, supported by consistent messaging across Square Enix’s official channels, press materials, or other concrete release information.
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