There is a new Yoko project / game in the works.
There was an open position for a scenario writer and/or planner for a new project / game related to NieR. The official SQEX page is no longer accessible, but this is what was listed:
【Job Description】
Scenario production and planning work for related NieR products.
«Work Details»
Based on the view of the world of the NieR series, you will be responsible for the following:
· Create plots for sub-quests and scenario creation
· Design instructions such as NPC design specifications used in the game
· Generate text displayed in the game, such as item descriptions
Yoko’s Message:
Hello. I am the director of the NieR series, Yoko Taro.
With everyone’s support, it seems like there will be further developments with NieR. Nevertheless, there is a limit to how much this lazy bum, Yoko, can do.
Consulting the NieR producer Saito Yosuke (Square Enix) and telling him how “I’m already at my limit”, we decided to bring on more people to fill a team to, so we’re very honored to recruit people this time.
Some people might be worried, thinking things like “What sort of person is Yoko?” I’m also similarily filled with unease about “what sort of people might show up…” But I think it’s also good to talk a little bit among likewise uneasy people.
*lick*lick*
Saito’s Message:
I talked with Yoko about what we should do with NieR in the future. We thought things like, “Oh, this is just a one-hit-wonder” or “This is our peak season, and there is no more.” Things like that. But it certainly feels like there are many people waiting for the world of NIeR. Well, I suppose it’s not that certain.
That being said, Yoko is not a god. He’s human. Sometimes he cries, sometimes loses heart. So, those who can lend Yoko a hand and help spin together the world of NieR, we’d like to bring you into this machine by recruiting for “NieR related Scenario Staff”.
It might be pretty competitive, but if you are interested, please feel free to apply.
Thank you.
I entered, but I have no experience writing scenario pitches, so my entry was probably way off. We were meant to write a plot about a main character who comes to a village and thusly falls in love with a villager. The key was to write it clearly for other staff to understand. It’s basically a 400 word story pitch.
The application process opened on September 19, 2017 and finished on October 18, 2017. There were several callbacks through the end of January 2018 and the “finalist” was likely hired in February.
Most recently, Yoko mentioned in a questionnaire with Famitsu magazine (the 8/2 2018 edition, Issue No.1546) that he is working on a new project, but he was unable to discuss anything about it.
Nothing specifically connected the above comment with the potential new game in the NieR or broader Yokoverse, but I think it’s pretty likely.
＊ Any new and/or additional information will be added to this page when more becomes known.
REGARDING RUMORS
There has been NO OFFICIAL statement or confirmation regarding a NieR remake or new game besides the information that I laid out in this article, which stems from the scenario planner job opening they posted in September 2017.
A “famous insider” on Twitter has stated that NieR:Automata 2 is in development and will have a larger budget this time around, but failed to state any sources or proof of this statement. I don’t personally or professionally know this person to judge how credible his statements may be, but it’s probably not a good idea to blindly believe what someone on Twitter says without any verifiable sources. Spark Chronicles has also hopped on this rumor-hype bandwagon.
Additionally, wccf tech cites a November 2017 article from Gematsu, which further credits the information to a blog for Twitter user ryokutya837, however, the blog in question fails to cite a source for the quotes they use. It is, however, likely that all of this is referencing the new “Yoko Project” that I stated above.
We’ve known something has been in the works since September 2017 when they were recruiting scenario planners, with initial talks likely occurring before this.
During the 8th Official Livestream @STORIA for the 2nd Anniversary of NieR:Automata & the GOTY release, they introduced several members of the 5-person writing team that they hired from this job opening. This introduction occurred around the time of the NieR collaboration with SINoALICE and a little before the announcement of FFXIV YoRHa:Dark Apocalypse, so there was some ambiguity whether they were hired for those projects or something entirely new; however, I think it’s still safe to say that neither of these projects would require an entire writing team working in conjunction with Yoko.
All this to say:
- Yoko is working on something new, and has been since at least September 2017.
- No official statement has been made to confirm a NieR remake or an entirely new, standalone game at this time.
> AFTERWORD
Please avoid spreading uncorroborated rumors regarding “NieR:Automata 2” or a NieR remaster/remake because SQEX is the only entity that has authority to speak upon this. “Insiders” on Twitter have no authority nor have they stated anything that confirms these rumors, so until SQEX speaks upon this subject, please do not believe everything you hear that cannot be verifiably confirmed by direct sources (SQEX).