Nier director Yoko Taro turns server shutdown into an ultimatum: finish the story, blow up your save file

Not satisfied with a simple server shutdown, gacha game Sinoalice, overseen by Nier director Yoko Taro, has recreated one of the Nier series' trademarks by making some players delete their save files to see the story through to the end. 

As translated by a Sinoalice fan account, players on the mobile game’s Taiwanese server are getting a special ending seemingly created by the helmet-clad man himself. Once the final cutscene is played after the final mission, players on the server will be forced to log out, never to return again. 

At the time of writing, it appears this is a special event limited to those on the Taiwanese server, as it was due to shut down anyway. This way, players are sent off with a narrative bang rather than seeing a video game just shut off one day. The Japanese and global servers are fine for now, though you never know with Yoko Taro. 

As Sinoalice English explains on Twitter, part of the game’s final arc is releasing today, allowing those on the server to play nine out of ten verses if all the requirements have been met. Once November 3 rolls around, players will be able to play the tenth and final verse, which will see them booted from the game upon completion.

It’s not the first time Taro has toyed with deleting players’ save files or accounts. Both Neir Replicant and Automata (spoilers at the links) force you to delete your save file to see a certain ending which is often billed as the true one. Mobile and gacha games facing closure is nothing new for the industry, but Taro has at least managed to kill this server in the most Taro way possible, and we’re here for the sheer flourish. 

Outside of deleting Sinoalice player’s saves, Taro has also taken the time to thank Nier Automate fans for their terrible and lewd artwork.