NieR: Automata’s Final Secret Has Yet To Be Discovered And It Sounds Like Trouble

As part of NieR: Automata’s first year anniversary, key developers including Yoko Taro, director Takahisa Taura, producer Yosuke Saito, and more had some stories to share about the development and beyond in this week’s issue of Famitsu magazine. [Thanks, Hachima.]

The interview features 10 staff members of NieR: Automata including producer Yosuke Saito, Yoko Taro, Takahisa Taura of PlatinumGames, character designer Akihiko Yoshida, and more.

Here are the highlights:

• It’s been a sentimental year where the developers felt they were able to do what they wanted, and were happy to see NieR: Automata sell well.

• The developers were hopeful to reach one million in sales, but did not expect the two million worldwide.

• (On the recruitment for scenario staff to make something new for NieR) Numerous people have been interviewed. Still making the final selection. Yoko Taro: “This is the first time I felt eager thinking that we should at least do one project.”

• Square Enix felt that fans from the previous title really helped carry NieR: Automata with support. They truly felt that the immense sensation of hunger from longtime fans really piqued the interest of others.

• (On a NieR topic that hasn’t been talked about) It’s a little trick, but you can hold down the R3 button and use the directional keys to change the camera distance. However, using this might go through the topography and bug the camera. As a result of deliberation, they felt that it was very NieR-esque and left it in.

• “That” has yet to be found. Since the developers feel that it would definitely be bad, they have yet to make it public. Due to various circumstances, this something made its way into the game. Since they feel that going into any further detail might cause some problems, they won’t say more about it. Think of it as NieR: Automata’s last secret.

• (On the next title) A game was recently proposed to producer Saito and effort is being put for it to not be setback. Yoko Taro: “I proposed it in hopes of making everyone suffer. If the plan goes through, then I’d like to announce it.”

• (On what’s next for NieR) It has yet to be decided, but 2020 will be the series’ 10th anniversary, so the developers would like to do something big. They think it would be nice to have some kind of new game announcement.

NieR: Automata is available on PlayStation 4 and PC.