Square Enix announced on February 9, 2022, a special live stream for the 5th anniversary of Yoko Taro's NieR Automata - but while fans are already hyped for possible announcements like the rumored anime, it's unlikely the stream will be worth your time.

With over 6 million copies sold worldwide, NieR Automata by Square Enix and PlatinumGames is one of the most popular action JRPGs of these last ten years. The tale by Yoko Taro is now celebrating its 5th anniversary on February 23, 2022, and a special live stream will be held for the occasion. But it's unlikely said stream will feature any major announcements.

  • MORE - Why the rumored NieR Automata anime should feature an original story

NieR: Automata 5th anniversary stream on February 23 explained

The live stream, first announced on Twitter, is officially titled in Japanese the "Let's Chi~ll And Celebrate NieR: Automata's 5th Anniversary" stream. The stream is scheduled to start at 18:00 JST/4 AM EST. It'll feature:

  • NieR's producer at Square Enix Yosuke Saito
  • Creative director Yoko Taro
  • NieR Automata's senior game designer at PlatinumGames Takahisa Taura
  • NieR's composer Keiichi Okabe

Furthermore, the stream's official description explained it'll be a chill talk show with NieR Automata's developers looking back on these last five years, and how it "might have some new information announced".

It looks like we have every reason to get excited for this live stream, but there are several points making me believe we shouldn't get our hopes up.

NieR Automata 5th anniversary stream: Why fans shouldn't set their expectations too high

Square Enix will only hold the NieR Automata 5th anniversary live stream on Nico Nico Douga, with the stream's page live now. As of now, there is no YouTube version of the live stream, meaning Square Enix isn't even expecting fans outside Japan to watch this stream in the first place. Making it unlikely any big announcement will be made.

Update: A YouTube page for the NieR Automata 5th anniversary stream is now live:

Furthermore, the second part of the stream will be available only to Nico Nico paid premium accounts viewers. In other words, even a portion of the Japanese fanbase won't be able to watch it. This second half will be a Q&A with the developers, and fans can send in their questions in Japanese through this form.

Personally speaking, I am excited for the stream and really looking forward to Yoko Taro's jokes. But that's because I know what to expect, can speak Japanese, and am paying for a Nico Nico Premium account for over five years now. The stream should be very similar to the live stream where Yoko Taro introduced his team of writers working with him on NieR Reincarnation.

While I personally believe in the NieR Automata anime rumor, it's unlikely the anime's official announcement will be shared on that 5th anniversary stream. What do you all think? Tell me in the comments below!