Nier Creator Yoko Taro Reveals He’s Been Working on Cancelled Projects Since Automata’s Release

Key Takeaways

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  • Yoko Taro has been working on multiple projects since NieR: Automatas release in 2017, but none have been released due to cancellations.
  • Taro prefers patience and will not rush a project to avoid delivering an unpolished or strange product to fans.
  • The gaming industry faces uncertainty with lengthy and expensive development cycles, evolving trends, and strategies leading to project cancellations.
  • Game completions are never guaranteed, as many cancelled projects often remain unknown to the public.

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Yoko Taro’s Post-Automata Projects Often Cancelled Despite Industry Challenges

Although his hit game NieR: Automata is considered a cult classic, its creator, Yoko Taro, recently clarified his apparent absence from the gaming scene. At the G-CON 2024 conference in South Korea, as reported by 4Gamer, Taro explained that he has been working on several projects since NieR’s release in 2017, but none of them ultimately shipped. “Everyone’s always asking me about a new NieR sequel or saying I’m not doing anything, but that’s because lots of my recent projects got nixed halfway through,” Taro said. “I have been working on stuff, just none of it got released. I got paid for it too, so no complaints from me. It’s just that folks think I haven’t done anything because nothing new has come out.” Taro added that even established developers and popular game franchises face uncertainty in today’s market, as lengthy and expensive development cycles, combined with evolving trends and strategies, can lead to project cancellations. He suggested that these cancellations, which rarely become public, demonstrate that a game’s completion is never guaranteed.

Yoko Taro’s Comfort with Patience and Skipping Wacky Projects in Game Development

Taro stated that he is comfortable not releasing anything for years, adding that he would rather not disappoint fans with an unpolished or strange product. “No big deal,” he said, “if I made something wacky, it’s better to skip it altogether.” Ultimately, Taro’s explanation highlights the unpredictable nature of game development and the creative and business decisions that shape the industry.

In Case You Missed It

In the vibrant world of gaming, Carlos Mendoza at Players for Life has the latest scoop on Stellar Blade’s PC release in 2025 Stellar Blade: PC Version Arriving in 2025, Expected to Sell Better Than on PS5. Shift Up studio is brimming with confidence, thanks to Black Myth Wukong’s success, and has set its sights on both Korean and Chinese markets. But that’s not all! Stellar Blade is cooking up a thrilling crossover with NieR Automata, bringing 2B and A2-inspired costumes via DLC starting November 20th. Meanwhile, in an unexpected yet inspiring turn of events, NieR creator Yoko Taro opened up about his struggles and triumphs at G-Con 2025 NieR Creator Experiences Multiple Game Cancellations. In a candid chat with Hideki Kamiya, Taro shared his commitment to creating only the best games possible, even if it means never releasing them. It’s a must-read for fans eager to peek into the mind of one of gaming’s most enigmatic figures!

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