Even when you loved NieR: Automata and its predecessor, NieR: Replicant, you can be forgiven for not figuring out that sport truly obtained a sequel, and a fairly good one too. Sadly, that sequel, cell sport NieR: Re[in]carnation, hasn’t been accessible 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 may be about to vary.
As identified to us on BlueSky by journalist Willa Rowe, an official NieR web site that is at present publishing a NieR particular movel to commemorate the sequence 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 in the present day’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. Should 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:
TODO: Optimize rendering effectivity. Contradictions in “Her” feelings might intrude with sign readability. Guarantee transission stays undistorted.
FIXME: Visibility settings enabled for crashed observer system. He’s watching…Alter entry permissions earlier than deployment. His identify is…………
HACK: Log discrepancy detected. Information point out earlier modification makes an attempt on account of extreme interference from The Cage. Cross-check towards authentic transmission earlier than continuing.
Okay, there’s so much right here, a few of which is inscrutable and a few of which is sensible. “The Cage”, for example, is the principle 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 turn out to be of it stays anybody’s guess.
The 2 closing chapters of the novel are scheduled to publish on Could 2, per week from in the present day, 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 form of port or re-release of NieR: Re[in]carnation, which has been utterly unplayable wherever because it went offline final 12 months. They’re additionally declaring that the chapters of the particular novel, that are at present solely accessible in Japanese (however which followers are translating), have some fairly important tie-ins to all three different NieR video games.
Should you’re unfamiliar with Re[in]carnation, I extremely suggest keeping track of this, particularly if the top result’s one other alternative to play it. Re[in]carnation is an effective sport in its personal proper that many slept on on account of its being a cell gacha sport, however critically, it is also the direct sequel to NieR: Automata, and successfully is NieR 3, for many who have been ready for it. Who is aware of? Perhaps a brand new Re[in]carnation launch may embrace some new content material that ties the continued stream of free NieR-related threads collectively ultimately.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You’ll find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Obtained a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.
