NieR: Automata has made a huge impact on the Japanese gaming industry since its 2017 release. Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida believes this action RPG didn't just shine a spotlight on its creators – it breathed new life into Japan's entire gaming scene.
Speaking with AVWatch (translated by Genki), Yoshida shared how Japanese developers had previously struggled in the global market. During the PS3 era, many tried chasing international trends by creating games with a more "Western feel," but this strategy wasn't working out.
"As games became more realistic and Hollywood-style works started to appear, Japanese creators thought, 'We have to make something that will be well-received overseas,'" Yoshida explained. But these attempts often missed the mark because "there was no original context" and left international players wondering "what is this?"
Everything changed when NieR: Automata hit shelves in 2017. Director Yoko Taro wasn't focused on pleasing overseas markets – he simply made the game he wanted to make. Surprisingly (or perhaps not), it became a worldwide hit.
"I think Yoko made it without any thought of whether it would sell overseas or not. But it was a big hit overseas," Yoshida noted. This success opened everyone's eyes: authentically Japanese games could find global audiences without trying to be something they're not.
This revelation sparked a major shift in thinking among Japanese developers. Instead of imitating Western games, they embraced their unique cultural perspective. As Yoshida puts it, they realized: "Let's stop imitating overseas countries. If we create things with our own culture that we understand, they will understand it overseas."
The impact was so significant that Yoshida now divides recent Japanese gaming history into two eras: "before NieR and after NieR."
Digital distribution played a big role in this revival too. Online platforms help niche games find scattered fans worldwide, creating viable markets for distinctly Japanese titles that might have struggled through traditional retail channels.
NieR: Automata's influence extends beyond just inspiring developers. The game spawned an anime adaptation, and its protagonist 2B has popped up in games like Fall Guys and Soulcalibur.
While fans are still waiting to hear what's next for the NieR series (especially after mobile game NieR: Reincarnation shut down last April), Yoshida's comments highlight how one distinctive game changed an entire industry by encouraging developers to embrace their cultural roots rather than running from them.
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