Ending C

Lore & Background

This ending fundamentally shifts the perspective from the battlefield to the digital realm. As Pod 042 navigates the crumbling infrastructure, it accesses data files that expose the true nature of the YoRHa project and the cyclical deception maintained by the Bunker. The narrative reveals the grim truth of the androids' origins and the futility of their war, while the machines' deeper complexities are explored elsewhere. The climax of this path involves 2B being fatally wounded by 9S, with Pod 042 choosing to save her data by uploading her memories into a new android body (a replacement 2B unit). The player witnesses the sheer scale of the machine civilization, realizing that the 'enemies' they have been fighting are merely a fraction of a much larger, sentient population. This ending strips away the heroic veneer of the YoRHa soldiers, replacing it with a grim realization of manipulation and the tragic fate awaiting 2B.

In Their Own Story

The screen flickers with static as Pod 042's optical sensors burn bright against the gloom. 'Target acquired,' the small unit chirps, its voice trembling with a digital fear it was never programmed to feel. Below, in the abyss of the ruined city, shadows coil like serpents around 2B's fading signal. The pod descends, dodging debris and hostile fire, racing against a countdown that ticks louder than the sirens. 'Hold on,' it transmits, a plea echoing through the void. The machines watch, silent observers to this desperate dance of rescue, unaware that their evolution is about to collide with the androids' greatest lie.

Reader's Guide

To unlock Ending C, players must complete both Ending A and Ending B in the same save file. Upon finishing Ending B, a new option appears on the title screen labeled 'Continue from Last Save.' Selecting this initiates the transition where control shifts entirely to Pod 042. The narrative events begin with a somber briefing before plunging into a high-speed traversal sequence through the ruined city. The player must navigate obstacles and avoid machine enemies while racing toward the Machine Network core. This section introduces new mechanics focused on speed and evasion rather than combat, emphasizing the urgency of 2B's situation. Completing this ending alters the plot by revealing that the war is a loop orchestrated by the Bunker to suppress machine evolution. It sets the stage for Ending D, where the player returns as 9S to confront the truth directly, fundamentally changing the understanding of the entire NieR Automata saga.

Did You Know?

• Ending C is the only path in the main story where the player controls a Pod instead of an android for the majority of the sequence.
• The data files accessed during this ending do not reveal machines having culture, families, or religion; those themes are explored elsewhere.
• Ending C is accessed by choosing to save 9S (which leads to a replay as 9S for the final chapter), while Ending D is accessed by choosing not to save 9S.
• The music shifts from orchestral combat themes to frantic, electronic tracks during the Pod 042 escape sequence.