Nier director Yoko Taro: New game projects start ‘with the money’
During an interview at the G-STAR game show in Busan, Nier director Yoko Taro shared insights into his pragmatic approach to game development. When asked about how he approaches new projects, Taro explained that development fundamentally begins with budget allocation rather than creative vision alone. He stated that projects always start “with the money,” emphasizing that understanding the development budget from the outset is crucial to the process. Taro clarified this approach by noting his awareness of available resources from the beginning, which then informs how many people can be hired and what scope is feasible. The interview, originally published in Famitsu, was conducted alongside Clovers studio director Hideki Kamiya, touching on both new game projects and previously cancelled ones. Taro’s candid remarks highlight the financial realities of game development, where budget constraints shape creative possibilities rather than concepts alone driving production decisions.