Square Enix has announced that it is hosting a ten-hour livestream to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the NieR video game series. The livestream will be hosted on the Nico Nico Japanese video platform.
The program will be held in three parts. Two of the programs require pad access, while the last will be free. Further information about each program will be announced closer to the program’s release.
The first part of the program is the NieR: Theatrical Orchestra 12020 performance held in Tokyo. The next program, stage YoRHa Ver1.3aa, is paid and requires an online ticket to view. The prices to watch both performances are not yet available.
The in-person live event was canceled for those who wanted to visit the venue. The performance may be a live event not filmed in front of an audience or a pre-recorded event.
The last program is a live talk show. It’s likely the talk show will only feature the developers and won’t be held in front of an audience due to current social distancing practices occurring around the globe.
Registering for a Nico Nico account is free, but the paid programming requires a fee that may not be accessible to users outside of Japan. Premium users can watch past programs or even watch from the beginning if they missed a certain part of the program.
At the end of 2019, Square Enix announced plans for an all-year celebration for the 10th anniversary of the NieR series. The events included the creation of a special website plus other events throughout the year. Although many of the in-person events are now being canceled due to the current COVID-19 issue, the publisher and developer plan on hosting livestream events. Players can also enjoy the digital versions of the games.
NieR initially debuted in April 2010 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as a spin-off of the Drakengard series. It was developed by Cavia and published by Square Enix. The game’s sequel, developed by PlatinumGames, was NieR: Automata, which was released for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in 2017. Although the game began as a spin-off it became a popular series on its own.
The NieR 10th Anniversary 10-hour broadcast will air on Nico Nico on March 29.
