In a recent interview with GamesRadar, Nier: Automata director Yoko Taro revealed that Square Enix did not force the team to cater to a specific target audience during production. This allowed him to create entirely according to his own vision, even going so far as to "avoid SE as much as possible and minimize interactions" during development. The game later surpassed 10 million copies in sales.
Unlike many commercial projects that first target the market and define their audience, this title prioritized the creator's personal expression before submitting it to market validation. This freedom allowed Yoko Taro to fully realize his narrative vision. The final product blended PlatinumGames' fluid action combat with his signature oppressive, philosophically rich storytelling, enabling the game to break out of its niche and achieve global sales exceeding ten million copies, cementing its status as a classic RPG.
When addressing the common labeling of his works as "bizarre" or "grotesque," Yoko Taro maintained his characteristic self-deprecating tone. He stated that he always believed he was making ordinary games for ordinary people, yet those who ended up loving his works were mostly players considered "odd" by others. He jokingly suggested that perhaps the problem lay with himself.
Yoko Taro also discussed the market reception of the original Nier. The first installment's sales were less than ideal, with many design elements failing to gain market approval. However, for Nier: Automata, thanks to a more lenient creative environment that didn't require strict adherence to commercial constraints, he had the opportunity to fully implement the entire worldview.
Yoko Taro's signature black humor and self-mockery are also key aspects of his persona. He has no intention of deliberately pleasing all players, placing greater importance on fully presenting the stories he wishes to tell. While Nier: Automata is now a massive success, no one could have predicted such a tremendous response during its development.