Square Enix will be finally launching the remaster of the first NieR game by Yoko Taro, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139 this April, with many new changes to make the game more comfortable, most notably with NieR Automata fans - We detailed the release date, and numerous changes revealed so far, thanks to our past coverage of the NieR remaster, and courtesy of several Japanese outlets' new previews, most notably Game Watch.

NieR Replicant remaster release date on PC via Steam, PS4, Xbox One

First off, Square Enix will launch NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… on April 24, 2021, worldwide, on PS4, PC via Steam, and Xbox One. However, it's important to note that only in Japan, the NieR Replicant Remaster will instead launch on April 22.

  • YOKO TARO - The director is working on two new games at Square Enix

If you're really impatient and can speak Japanese, you'll be able to grab the game two days in advance, so be sure to keep that in mind.

NieR Replicant remaster - All changes detailed so far

Overall, producer Yosuke Saito, creative director Yoko Taro, director Saki Ito, composer Keiichi Okabe, and PlatinumGames' Takahisa Taura explained several things about the NieR Replicant remaster ahead of release.

The most important thing to note is that it's not a simple remaster but a true upgrade.

Battle system

Takahisa Taura is supervising the new battle system, which is now closer to NieR Automata. There's a lockon system, and as seen in past gameplay videos, we can now chain magic and physical attacks.

For those who aren't good with action games, NieR Automata remaster adds an Easy mode that includes an auto battle mode. The mode has several features players can turn on or off. Including Auto Attack, Auto Magic, Auto Evasion / Defense, Auto Weapon Switching, and more. You can activate or deactivate each one in the menu seen in the screenshot above.

Monsters now drop many more items, most notably recovery herbs. You"ll reach the maximum amount you can carry, so it's best to regularly sell them for money.

  • NEW SYSTEMS - NieR Replicant remaster will also include a "mountain" of Weapon Stories, as explained by Yosuke Saito.

Graphics, BGM, voice acting, story

As for the BGM and sound aspect: Every song in the game was rerecorded. Moreover, NieR Replicant remaster unlike the original, is fully voiced.

The game has several brand new parts, scattered through it. With new lore on the story and deeper details on some of the characters revealed.

Lastly, the graphics have been reworked and vastly upgraded to it current gen. It's important to note though: In the past, director Saki Ito explained the staff did its best to reproduce the original game’s feel and graphics in the remaster. The character design was also redone by Akihiko Yoshida.

As a side note, the previewer from Game Watch, in a particularly funny way, pointed out: "The original game already managed to portray the beauty of Kaine's outfit, but the upgraded graphics of the remaster really emphasizes her lace underwear and butt, and it was the biggest shock of the preview". They added that it's a shame there weren't allowed to share screenshots of Kaine's full ingame 3D model. In a sense, this too is now more catering to NieR Automata fans' taste.

Extra content, DLC (April 20, 2021 Update)

Square Enix held on April 19 a livestream revealing several new details on the extra content and DLC of NieR Replicant Ver.1.22. We covered everything here.

Japanese release date (April 21, Update)

NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139 is now out in Japan on PS4 and Xbox One, as the game launched on April 22, 2021. We're past midnight in Japan, so those who preordered the game's Japanese version digitally can play it right now.