Even in case you loved NieR: Automata and its predecessor, NieR: Replicant, you would be forgiven for not understanding that sport truly acquired a sequel, and a fairly good one too. Sadly, that sequel, cellular sport NieR: Re[in]carnation, hasn’t been obtainable for nearly a 12 months after being taken offline in April of 2024.
However luckily, a Sq. Enix web site is dropping some fairly wild in-universe hints that this could be about to alter.
As identified to us on BlueSky by journalist Willa Rowe, an official NieR web site that is at the moment publishing a NieR particular movel to commemorate the collection fifteenth anniversary is teasing one thing NieR: Re[in]carnation-related by way of cryptic in-text hints and webpage supply code. As part of immediately’s replace to the novel, the just-published chapter 4 ends with some unusual textual content that reads as follows:
[WARNING] : Restoration protocol initialized…[ERROR] : Redirecting to backup node: [INFO] : Evaluation feedback added to the supply code.
[FATAL] : Course of forcibly halted.
What does THAT imply? Who is aware of? However wait, there’s extra. In the event you hit “View Supply” on that web page, there are much more bizarre teases within the code feedback, as hinted at above. They learn, so as:
SECURITY NOTICE: Unauthorized transmission detected. Sign disruption logged. Countermeasure protocol energetic. Redirecting to backup node: https://www.jp.square-enix.com/nierreincarnation/
TODO: Optimize rendering effectivity. Contradictions in “Her” feelings might intervene with sign readability. Guarantee transission stays undistorted.
FIXME: Visibility settings enabled for crashed observer system. He’s watching…Modify entry permissions earlier than deployment. His identify is…………
HACK: Log discrepancy detected. Data point out earlier modification makes an attempt as a consequence of extreme interference from The Cage. Cross-check towards authentic transmission earlier than continuing.
Okay, there’s rather a lot right here, a few of which is inscrutable and a few of which is smart. “The Cage”, as an illustration, is the primary location the place most of NieR: Re[in]carnation takes place. And “Her” is a key character (sure, that is Her identify) in Re[in]carnation as properly. Between that and the hyperlink, it is fairly apparent what all that is referencing, however what precisely will grow to be of it stays anybody’s guess.
The 2 closing chapters of the novel are scheduled to publish on Might 2, every week from immediately, and it is attainable it might additionally pull again the curtain on no matter’s taking place right here. Followers are speculating that it might be main as much as some kind of port or re-release of NieR: Re[in]carnation, which has been utterly unplayable anyplace because it went offline final 12 months. They’re additionally mentioning that the chapters of the particular novel, that are at the moment solely obtainable in Japanese (however which followers are translating), have some fairly important tie-ins to all three different NieR video games.
In the event you’re unfamiliar with Re[in]carnation, I extremely advocate keeping track of this, particularly if the top result’s one other alternative to play it. Re[in]carnation is an efficient sport in its personal proper that many slept on as a consequence of its being a cellular gacha sport, however critically, it is also the direct sequel to NieR: Automata, and successfully is NieR 3, for individuals who have been ready for it. Who is aware of? Perhaps a brand new Re[in]carnation launch might embody some new content material that ties the continued stream of unfastened NieR-related threads collectively finally.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You will discover her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Acquired a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.
