Square Enix announced in this week’s issue of Famitsu magazine the official title of the new Nier project, or Nier 2, as NieR Automata. [Thanks, Game Jouhou.]
The game takes place on a devastated planet Earth, and will show the intense battle between android “YoRHa” Unit [interestingly, YoRHa also happens to be the name of Taro Yoko’s stage play, and the game will be related in some ways] made by humans, against the “Living Machines” sent by the enemy of mankind.
The magazine also showcases characters and world setting by Akihiko Yoshida. The character that appears to be the protagonist is named “YoRHa #2 Type B” and wields a sword and great sword. There’s also a support system called “Pod” that makes it possible for long-ranged attacks.
Game Jouhou also notes that the term “YoRHa” and the android units are both mentioned in the play and the upcoming game. Additionally, the YoRHa androids in the stage play and the character from NieR Automata (YoRHA No. 2 Type B) wear similar clothing, so it’s possible that they both take place in the same world.
Here’s a short summary on Taro Yoko’s YoRHa stage play:
During the during the 14th Machine Armament War in the year 11,939AD, humans are near extinction. With the invasion of the “Living Machines”, humanity had no choice but to abandon the planet, taking refuge upon the Moon. Their only hope lie in an armada of specially configured androids called “YoRHa”. Programmed with human emotions and feelings, they descend upon the surface of the planet to combat the ceaseless onslaught of the Machines.
With the destruction of No.1 in the decent to the planet, No.2 assumes command over all units… however reluctant and unsure of her own abilities. She remains this way throughout the entity of the play; she keeps her black “visor” on the longest…only taking it off in the final scene when she faces the machines on her own.
No.2, after witnessing the destruction of her unit and the last of the Resistance, a failed YoRHa expedition hundreds of years before her time, she is alone among a cold, unfeeling world ruled by machines.
If you’d like to check out more on the stage play and the story behind No. 2 and the other YoRHa androids you can do so at Nier2.com’s detailed summary post.
NieR Automata is in development for PlayStation 4.
