Square Enix is sending three characters from Nier: Automata into the fog of Dead by Daylight, and the crossover is live now. The collaboration drops today, Oct. 6, with a reveal trailer posted by Dead by Daylight developer Behaviour Interactive.
The partnership brings 2B, A2, and Emil into the horror game’s asymmetric multiplayer setup. Instead of brand-new characters, though, the crossover uses reskins of existing Dead by Daylight Survivors and Killers. That means Feng Min gets a 2B skin, Yui Kimura gets an A2 skin, and The Legion gets an Emil-inspired outfit. The collection also includes Pod 042 and Legendary portraits of 2B and A2.
What the Collaboration Actually Includes
The Survivors’ skins are Legendary Outfits, which means they come with extra content beyond the look. Each outfit includes unique music, voice lines, HUD icons, menu idle animations, and more. The Legion’s Emil outfit is Very Rare, a step below Legendary in the game’s rarity system.
“Beyond the amazing characters and incredible visuals, there’s a definite connection between the themes of our two universes, both dealing with cycles of violence and suffering.”
That’s what creative director Dave Richard said about the crossover. He framed the partnership as a celebration of what makes Nier: Automata special to the team.
Why Square Enix Is Doing Crossovers Instead of a Sequel
It has been almost a decade since Square Enix released Nier: Automata to widespread critical acclaim. There is no news on a follow-up. Instead, the company has focused on crossovers with other titles.
Yoko Taro, the creator behind Nier: Automata, has joked about the situation before. In an interview, he said these crossovers continue to happen because he is a “slave to capitalism, so I will do anything as long as I am paid and will do nothing if there’s no money in it.” That joke captures the tension: Taro is not ignoring fans, but he is not building a sequel either.
NieR 3 Already Exists, Sort Of
Taro did make something called NieR 3. It exists as the mobile gacha game Nier: Reincarnation. Fans who follow the series closely insist that Reincarnation was an important continuation of the series’ overarching story, even though it was shut down in 2024.
In 2025, Taro revealed that he had attempted to work on several new projects. All of them got canceled. It was not made clear if one of those projects was a Nier game. The result is that while it does not seem like a priority for Square Enix, fans still hold out hope that the series will return.
The Skin Designs Are Reskins, Not New Characters
This crossover differs from others in how it handles the characters. Instead of creating fresh Survivors or Killers, the partnership uses existing Dead by Daylight figures with new looks slapped on top.
Feng Min becomes 2B, and Yui Kimura becomes A2. The Legion takes on Emil’s appearance. The collection also brings Pod 042 and Legendary portraits of 2B and A2.
What Players Get With the Legendary Outfits
Legendary Outfits in Dead by Daylight come with more than just a new look. The unique music, voice lines, HUD icons, and menu idle animations make each skin feel distinct from the base character underneath.
The voice lines are a notable addition. They carry the androids’ clipped, mechanical tones across the horror game’s fog. The HUD icons and menu animations carry that same theme, tying the visual design back to the original game’s presentation.
The Emil Outfit on The Legion
The Legion’s Emil outfit is Very Rare, which puts it a step below Legendary in the game’s rarity system. That matters for collectors who care about the tier of items they hold.
The Emil outfit turns The Legion into a recognizable android hunter. The fog’s horror setting makes for a funny image: an android hunter chasing survivors in a game built around fear.
Key Facts Box
- Release date: Oct. 6
- Crossover partners: Square Enix and Behaviour Interactive
- Survivor skins: 2B on Feng Min, A2 on Yui Kimura (both Legendary Outfits)
- Killer outfit: Emil on The Legion (Very Rare)
- Additional items: Pod 042, Legendary portraits of 2B and A2
The crossover is a small win for fans who want more Nier: Automata. It is not a sequel, but it is a reminder that the franchise still matters to people outside its own games. The characters are back, and the collection is available now.
The collection is available now.
See the video the story is built around at Polygon.
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