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"My producer will get really mad if he hears this": Nier creator Yoko Taro says "how slow I am" defines his writing style, but he's "sneaky" enough to get away with the consequences

News
By Catherine Lewis published 19 September 2025

"I'm good at creating situations where my writing is essential, but I'm just late at it"

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Nier Automata
(Image credit: Square Enix)
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Nier creator Yoko Taro says he's actually a slow writer, but he's "sneaky" enough to get away with the usual consequences by "creating situations where my writing is essential" – a tactic he admits his "producer will get really mad" about if he finds out…Let's hope his producer isn't reading this.

In a new interview with Archipel on YouTube (below), Yoko – who served as director on Nier Replicant, Automata, and Drakengard – says "how slow I am" is the thing that "would define my writing style the most." However, he quickly adds, "I have a trick for that, though."

The legendary director is clearly aware that a slower writing speed could be detrimental to him, as he explains: "If you're simply slow, then you don't get new writing opportunities or you get sided out of projects." That's not how he approaches things, however.

You may like
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  • Nier Automata director Yoko Taro Nier creator Yoko Taro says he isn't prioritizing a new game, pleads for updates from people who are
  • A screenshot of Yoko Taro in the "Message from NieR: Automata director Yoko Taro" Square Enix video announcing Nier: Automata's Steam release. Nier Automata's Yoko Taro thinks his generation of directors has "a lot of weirdos" and "oddballs," himself included
A look at Yoko Taro's writing process - Interview - YouTube A look at Yoko Taro's writing process - Interview - YouTube
Watch On

"I'm sneaky in the way that I'm good at creating situations where my writing is essential, but I'm just late at it. I usually start off by showing quick progress, then I gradually get slower and slower," he admits. "Admittedly, it's a bit unfair, but this is my method. I used the time I gain that way to polish my writing. My producer will get really mad if he hears this…"

Unfortunately for Yoko, it does seem pretty likely that his producer is going to find out now that he's proclaimed it in a YouTube video. But hey, no one can argue with his results, so perhaps he'll be able to continue at his usual pace regardless.

Nier Automata’s infamously quirky creator Yoko Taro has been an enigma for years, and now the legendary RPG veteran is getting an entire book filled with interviews that are sure to be unmissable.

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