All We Know About Yoko’s New IP

Posted on by

Updated: 2021.9.9 – 11:09pm

Earlier last year, we got wind that Yoko is working on two new titles, but later during the first NieR Replicant Ver.1.22 live broadcast on NicoNico (April 19), we were told the following:

  • Saito Yosuke is the Producer from SQEX
  • Yoko Taro is the Creative Director
  • The game is somewhat of an Indies title that will be download only (there might be a special package release at some point)

In later broadcasts (I need to relocate what broadcast this was stated), we were also told that Okabe Keiichi (MONACA) will be on board as composer.

We were also told that the game will be download only for non-mobile devices (so I’m assuming PS4/5, Xbox, Steam…) but they will think about a physical release sometime if the game is well received.

Excerpt from the idobata kaigi program, December 2020:

Saito: There are many things I still can’t talk about, but… I mean, we’re doing NieR— Replicant and Re[in]carnation— then there’s Babylon (Babylon’s Fall) as well.  There’s also talk about doing the next Automata, so when I was talking with Yoko about what we should do next, Yoko talked about something he really wants to do, but I told him I absolutely don’t want to do it. I was like, if you really want to do it, then you put up the money for it! But he presented it to me like I had never seen him do before. So, then he was like, “Okay, I have time tomorrow.” But that was a Sunday. Oh, wait. We talked on a Friday evening, so he was like, “Let’s talk tomorrow,” but I told him I couldn’t. So, he ended up showing me an hour-long presentation on Sunday. After that, we went out to eat and 3 bottles of wine later, I told him “let’s do it.” So, that’s what I regret, even now. He won me over with wine. I want to quit right now if I could. 

Yoko: This was the first time that I actually said what I wanted to do.

Saito: If it’s something Yoko wants to do, then I want to let him do it, to try out various different things. But I was entirely against it when he first brought it up.

Saito V: Is it a ways off yet?

Saito: Yes, it’ll be a while, but I hope you look forward to it.

Harada: About how long ago did you have this discussion?

Saito: It’s about a year or so ago.

Yoko: It was more than a year ago. It was quite a while ago. 

Harada: Oh, then it’s proceeding pretty well.

Yoko: Not so much… 

Saito: It’s progressing gradually.

Saito V: The comments are asking if it’s a game or something else.

Saito: It’s a game. 

Yoko: Are we really announcing something like this on Idobata Kaigi??

Saito: It’s an absolutely INSANE game.

Saito: I see this in the comments, but it’s not a rhythm/music game.

Yoko: I dunno, man, maybe we’ll make it into one.

Saito: It’s not a casual game.

Yoko: Ahh, I don’t know about that… Maybe it’ll become casual…

UPDATE: 2021.09.09

Today, Square Enix officially announced the new game by Yoko Taro, which was previously leaked here.

VOICE OF CARDS: THE ISLE DRAGON ROARS,
A NEW RPG BUILT OF CARDS

This is the official press release by Square Enix.

To Recap:

New IP for a download-only Indies game feature work by the following individuals:

Producer: Saito Yosuke
Creative Director: Yoko Taro
Composer: Okabe Keiichi (MONACA)
Character Designer: Fujisaka Kimihiko