NieR: Automata and Yoko Taro “Saved” PlatinumGames According to Co-Founder Hideki Kamiya

PlatinumGames’ co-founder Hideki Kamiya took to Twitter yesterday to praise NieR: Automata’s director Yoko Taro for the game’s success, mentioning that the title – which was developed by the aforementioned studio – “saved” the company.

Kamiya comments that the hack-n-slash sequel brought to the studio “a different fan base, staff growth, excellent job applicants and immense benefits.” He concludes his Tweet by saying “it’s not an exaggeration to say that PlatinumGames was saved by Yoko Taro” and that he “cannot thank him enough.”

ニーアの成功はプラチナにこれまでとは違うファン層をもたらし且つスタッフの成長、成功体験、優秀な就職志望者の増加と計り知れない恩恵を与えてくれた…本来は全て俺がやらなければならない事だった…情けない話だがプラチナはヨコオさんに救われたと言っても過言ではない…感謝してもしきれません…

— 神谷英樹 Hideki Kamiya (@PG_kamiya) August 13, 2017

Since then Taro himself responded to Kamiya’s graciousness, thanking PlatinumGames in turn for helping him “both physically and mentally” to complete NieR: Automata and feeling honored at having the privilege to do so.

こちらこそ本当にお世話になりました。プラチナの皆さんに支えていただいたおかげで、作品的にも、精神的にも本当に助かりました……一緒にゲームを作る事が出来て、光栄です。ありがとうございました。 https://t.co/Z3AhIT5783

— yokotaro (@yokotaro) August 13, 2017

The game was deemed successful by publisher Square Enix as well, as it performed higher than expectations and shipped over 1.5 million copies worldwide by the end of May. It’s cited as the ninth best-selling PlayStation 4 game of all time with 1.1 million copies sold, according to the publisher’s latest financial report, which is not a small accomplishment considering how niche the original NieR was.

Speaking of the prequel, a remaster could be coming somewhere down the line if recent comments from Taro are any indication, though nothing as of now is set in stone. PlatinumGames, on the other hand, announced during BitSummit this year that they are working on a game that will serve as a brand-new initiative for the team and that the project is something of a “formless, shapeless IP.”

NieR: Automata is out now for both PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam.

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