Nier: Automata and its predecessor, Nier: Replicant, have been hailed as true gems of the action RPG genre, reaching sales of nearly 10 million units worldwide. However, this success did not come without a crucial decision made by producer Yosuke Saito: choosing director Yoko Taro instead of the director of a famous title, whose identity has not been revealed.
Yoko Taro was the game director due to Saiyto’s conviction
During a recent interview with Famitsu, Saito reflected on the beginning of the Nier franchise, which they originally considered as an “experimental project.” It was this boldness that, according to him, allowed the series to become what it is today. In this context, it is interesting to think about how the industry would have been if Saito had opted for the other game. However, Taro’s choice has not been overshadowed, as Nier: Automata has been credited with the recovery of the Japanese video game industry, even by former PlayStation head, Shuhei Yoshida.
Apart from Nier, director Yoko Taro also proposed a side-scrolling game titled Echo, which never came to fruition. Saito revealed that he asked Taro to reconsider this idea. While it remains a mystery what “Echo” could have offered, it seems that both made a wise choice by focusing on the deeper stories that have characterized the Nier series.
Regarding the future of the franchise, Saito has indicated that “nothing has changed” regarding the new Nier title, which could pave the way for a potential Nier 3, with an announcement expected in 2027, as long as everyone “stays alive until then.” This statement has generated speculation among the fan community, who are eager for the continuation of a story that has left an indelible mark on the world of video games.
