Crystal of Atlan is getting a NieR:Automata crossover

The magicpunk MMO Crystal of Atlan is getting a NieR:Automata crossover event on May 21. Developer Nuverse scheduled the collaboration to mark the first anniversary of the game's global release across PlayStation 5, PC, and mobile devices.

At this point, 2B has appeared in so many other games that she practically qualifies as a freelance contractor. But since NieR:Automata is my all-time favorite modern game, I will gladly accept any excuse to see more YoRHa androids in action. Square Enix has turned these characters into a touring act. They have guest-starred in Soulcalibur VI, Fall Guys, Final Fantasy XIV, Goddess of Victory: Nikke, and Stellar Blade. They even have operator skins in Rainbow Six Siege. Dropping 2B into a new environment and giving players a giant machine to fight is a proven formula.

Outfits and bullet hell

The update adds 2B and 9S collaboration outfits for player characters. Instead of pulling the androids through a gacha system as standalone units, players can dress their existing avatars in the YoRHa uniforms. This includes the signature blindfolds and black combat dresses. The event also introduces a new playable class called the Karmaslayer. It sounds exactly like a name Yoko Taro would write on a whiteboard during a brainstorming session, though it fits right in with the game's existing roster of edgy magical fighters.

Grün makes the jump from Automata as the event's new World Boss. The multi-eyed mechanical sea Goliath emerges from the depths to flood the arena with glowing red orbs. Crystal of Atlan usually focuses on aerial juggling and rapid melee combos. This boss fight forces players to adapt to traditional NieR bullet-hell patterns. You have to dodge waves of projectiles before moving in for close-range damage.

ByteDance's first big hit

ByteDance established Nuverse to break into the core gaming market. Crystal of Atlan became their first major in-house success when it originally launched in China in 2023. The game combines a steampunk aesthetic with magical elements. Players join the Adventurer's Guild in the floating city of Atlan to fight mechanical threats.

Combat relies heavily on air juggles and skill chaining. It draws heavy inspiration from character action games rather than traditional tab-targeting MMOs. Players have to manage cooldowns and string together ground and aerial attacks to build up a combo meter. The base game launched with classes like the Magister, Musketeer, and Puppeteer, each branching into specialized subclasses with over twenty unique abilities. The Karmaslayer adds another layer to an already dense combat system and brings its own dedicated skill tree.

Beyond PlayStation

The announcement appeared on the PlayStation channel, but the game has full crossplay support and is available on PC, iOS, and Android. The combat footage was actually captured on PC. Cross-platform progression allows players to run daily quests on their phones and tackle harder raids on a console or desktop. The PlayStation 5 version natively supports the DualSense controller's haptic feedback and runs at higher frame rates, but the core experience remains identical across all hardware.

Skystone Games took over the US publishing operations shortly after the global launch last May. They have kept the servers running smoothly through the first year and avoided the pitfalls that often hit imported mobile-first MMOs. The NieR:Automata event servers go live next week.