Fans Are Buzzing Over Nier’s Cosmic Horror Tease This April Fools’ Day

If you’re tuning in from most places, it’s March 31. But in Japan, it’s already April 1, also known as April Fools’ Day, a day that many in the gaming world find a bit tiresome. It’s a time when game developers often share pranks and tease fake projects, though occasionally, companies like Sega surprise us with actual game releases. Now that Japan has officially entered April Fools’ Day, the Japanese NieR social media account is hinting at a “Cosmic Horror” project within the RPG series. If anyone in the gaming industry is likely to drop a genuine hint on April 1, it’s NieR director Yoko Taro.

The teaser doesn’t give away much. It showcases artwork of a robotic creature with a tendril for a head and oddly shaped cheeks. In the background, there’s a sketch of Emil, the young boy-turned-super-weapon from previous titles, known for his stone mask and unsettling grin. This comes on the heels of Square Enix teasing a new NieR project, but given the date, it’s likely that what Taro has in mind is something different… or is it?

It’s been nearly a decade since NieR: Automata launched in 2017, but fans of the series haven’t been left wanting for new content. The game has made appearances in various crossovers, a concert series provided fans with a sort of epilogue for Automata, and the anime adaptation introduced fresh story elements. There was also a mobile game called Reincarnation that offered significant worldbuilding, though Square Enix took it offline in 2024. Whatever Square Enix is planning, it would be exciting if they could revive Reincarnation in a way that removes the gacha mechanics and makes it available on other platforms.