Square Enix officially announces the development of Nier, a new action RPG from the creators of Drakengard.
Nier is first released in Japan for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms.
Nier is released in North America, expanding the game's availability to the western market.
Nier becomes available in Europe and Australia, localizing the game for these regions.
Square Enix announces the sequel to Nier, titled Nier: Automata, further developing the franchise.
Scientists begin Project Gestalt to separate human souls (Gestalts) from their bodies (Replicants) to save humanity from a fatal disease.
A disease causing victims to turn pale and insane spreads, prompting desperate measures like Project Gestalt.
Human souls are successfully removed from bodies, creating Gestalts and Replicants, but the Replicants lack souls and memory.
Attempts to restore Replicant memories fail, causing societal breakdown and violence.
Gestalts, now separated from their bodies, attack Replicant humans, leading to conflict between the two groups.
The protagonist, a male Replicant, is born in an isolated village with his daughter Yonah.
The protagonist's daughter Yonah becomes ill with the Black Scrawl disease, a deadly illness linked to Gestalts.
Driven to save Yonah, the protagonist embarks on a dangerous journey to find a cure for the Black Scrawl.
The protagonist discovers Grimoire Weiss, a magical talking book that aids him on his quest.
The protagonist faces hostile beings called Shades, which are revealed to be the original Gestalts.
The true nature of Replicants and Gestalts is revealed, exposing the tragic reality of their existence.
Kainé joins the protagonist's party after initial conflict; Emil, a cursed boy with petrifying powers, also joins.
The protagonist confronts and defeats the Shadowlord, the leader of the Gestalts and Yonah's original soul.
To protect Yonah and end the cycle, the protagonist sacrifices himself, resulting in the disappearance of all memories of him except in Kainé and Emil.
