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NieR: Automata Game's PSX Trailer Reveals March 7 N. American Release Date

Sony revealed a new trailer for Platinum Games' NieR:Automata PlayStation 4 game at the PlayStation Experience 2016 event on Saturday. The trailer reveals the game's March 7 release date in North America. Square Enix UK is also streaming the same trailer, which reveals the game's March 10 release in Europe.

Sony's PlayStation Blog also revealed information on the game's Day One edition and limited "Black Box" edition. Additionally, the game will have a free demo available in North America "soon" on the PlayStation Network.

The Black Box edition, which retails for US$189.99, includes: a collector's box, the game, a YoRHa "2B" figurine, a 64-page hardback artbook, a steelbook case featuring artwork from Bravely Default/Final Fantasy XIV artist Akihiko Yoshida, and a soundtrack of 13 live-recorded songs from both NieR and NieR:Automata. The Black Box edition is only available on the Square Enix Online Store.

The Black Box edition will also include the Day One edition digital content: a Machine Mask Accessory, a Grimoire Weiss Pod, a Play System Pod Skin, a Retro Grey Pod Skin, a Retro Red Pod Skin, and a Cardboard Pod Skin. The Day One edition also includes reversible box art featuring character illustrations by Yoshida.

Square Enix also plans to release the game on PC via Steam. The game ships in Japan on PS4 on February 23.

Square Enix describes the story:

The distant future…

Invaders from another world attack without warning, unleashing a new type of threat: weapons known as “machine lifeforms.” In the face of this insurmountable threat, mankind is driven from Earth and takes refuge on the Moon.

The Council of Humanity organizes a resistance of android soldiers in an effort to take back their planet. To break the deadlock, the Resistance deploys a new unit of android infantry: YoRHa . In the forsaken wasteland below, the war between the machines and the androids rages on.

A war that is soon to unveil the long-forgotten truth of this world...

The game is a follow-up to the 2010 NieR game, and reunites the director, producer, and composer. Freelance developer Taro Yoko (Drakengard series, NieR) is helming the project as director at Platinum Games. Yosuke Saito (Dragon Quest X, NieR) is credited as producer, and Keiichi Okabe (Drakengard series, NieR, Yuki Yuna Is a Hero) is composing the music. Takahisa Taura (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Anarchy Reigns) is handling the game design, and Akihiko Yoshida (Bravely Second, Final Fantasy XIV) is designing the game's characters. J'Nique Nicole and Emi Evans are each singing a version of the game's theme song.

The cast includes:

• Yui Ishikawa as 2B
• Natsuki Hanae as 9S
• Ayaka Suwa as A2

The now-defunct Japanese game developer Cavia (Drakengard, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles) developed the original NieR game as a spinoff of the Drakengard series in 2010. Two versions of the game were released for two different consoles: Cavia released NieR Gestalt for the Xbox 360, and NieR Replicant for the PlayStation 3. NieR Replicant featured a different character design for the protagonist, and minor differences in the plot. NieR was the last game Cavia developed before being disbanded and absorbed into AQ Interactive Inc. in July 2010. Taro Yoko went on to direct Drakengard 3 under Access Games.