Nier Automata Producer Says The Game Might’ve Never Happended Because It Was Initially An Experiment

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It Was Either Nier Or 'A Very Famous Title'

Story Highlight
  • Nier Automata producer reveals he initially had two choices when choosing where to invest.
  • One was a well-known game that everyone knew about, and the other was Yoko Taro’s title.
  • Nier began as an experiment at first, but went on to become one of the most popular RPGs.

NieR Automata released in 2017 and is considered one of the finest RPGs to date. However, the game wasn’t always in the studio’s plans, as they wanted to produce a different game, and it was a risky move. 

The game producer says that Nier Automata might never have happened because at first it was just an ‘experimental project’, but his trust in the director Yoko Taro pushed him to produce the title anyway. 

Why it matters: Investing in Nier proved to be a brilliant idea because the game went on to sell around 10 million units and sold 10x more than expected, even though it was developed with a limited budget. 

Nier Automata
Nier Automata might’ve never happened, as it was just an experiment initially

In an interview with Famitsu, the Nier producer Yosuke Saito went into detail about how the title began development. He said he had the choice of a very famous title that everyone knows, and Nier, which would be an experiment. 

I had two options in front of me. One was Yoko’s new work, and the other was a very famous title that everyone knows. But I Chose Yoko Taro!

– Yosuke Saito

New Nier Game
It has since then gone on to sell around 10 million copies

Unfortunately, he didn’t reveal the name of the ‘famous title’, but he went with Nier, trusting in Yoko Taro to develop something magical. Rightly so, Nier became a huge hit and is even claimed to have saved the Japanese gaming industry. 

There’s also some good news for fans wanting to get back into the franchise. The main Nier team is reportedly working on a sequel, which is expected to be revealed this year. Nonetheless, sticking with Taro was the best decision Saito made.

What are your thoughts on Nier beginning as an experiment at first? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum

 

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