Following news that Nier mobile game Nier Reincarnation shuts down in April, publisher Tencent has reportedly cancelled an unannounced Nier mobile game that was in development for nearly two years.
As reported by Reuters, Tencent “halted development” of the mystery mobile game in December 2023, “marking a setback in the Chinese gaming giant’s hunt for new hits”.
Tencent reportedly failed to work out a “compelling” monetisation model given the “expensive” development costs and franchise rights (which Square Enix owns). IGN has asked Square Enix for comment.
Blockbuster hit Nier: Automata is approaching its seventh birthday with no new mainline game announced so far. Square Enix producer Yosuke Saito said in November 2023 that while Nier chief Yoko Taro is alive, another entry in the Nier series will be released at some point.
Action role playing game Nier: Automata launched in 2017 and wowed critics and fans with its vast locations and zany combat. It was a surprise breakout hit for Square Enix and went on to sell an impressive 7.5 million copies. There have been many crossover events since, plus Nier-related promotions, a remaster of the first game, and even a Nier anime.
As for Tencent, recent rumblings suggest all is not well with the company’s gaming effort. Reuters reported in January 2024 that Tencent Chairman Pony Ma said the company’s gaming business, which accounts for more than 30% of revenue, was under threat because some of its recent games had fallen short of expectations.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
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