Earlier this year, Square Enix and director Yoko Taro announced an upcoming enhanced version of 2010 action role-playing game Nier, created as part of the game’s tenth anniversary celebration. The remaster is titled Nier Replicant version 1.22474487139, a somewhat confusing and difficult-to-remember string of numbers representing the square root of 1.5, an indication of the game’s status as a “midway point” between the original Nier and its sequel, 2017’s Nier: Automata. Replicant’s remade version is currently in development for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PC.
Originally, it was unclear whether the Replicant remaster would be released in the West or would remain exclusive to Japan. This is because the original Replicant never saw a Western release, being instead slightly remade into Nier: Gestalt. The primary difference between the two versions was the player character, the titular Nier, who was a younger individual described as “brotherly” in the original Replicant but an older “fatherly” type in Gestalt. The relationship between Nier and another key character in the game, Yonah, was changed from siblings to parent and child to reflect the edits made to Nier’s character.
However, during a presentation at the all-virtual Tokyo Game Show 2020, Square Enix officially confirmed that Nier Replicant version 1.22474487139 was coming to the West. It will debut in Europe and North America on April 23, 2021.
In addition to marking the first Western appearance of the younger “Brother Nier,” the remaster of Replicant will feature tons of new content including an expanded world to explore, new quests, and new story elements which will delve even further into the mysterious truth of Nier and Yonah’s existence. A gameplay demon shown off at Tokyo Game Show revealed updated graphics and combat animations, meant to bring the original game’s look and feel closer in line with the highly praised Automata.
Are you looking forward to experiencing the younger Nier’s story for the first time? Let us know!
