All We Know About Yoko’s New IP

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

Grimoire NieR: Revised Edition

Updated: 11/23/2021


The newly revised edition of Grimoire NieR was just released today, and let me say… it’s VERY nice!

I don’t have a lot of time to look at it closely or talk about it in depth right now, but you can find the table of contents below. One thing to note right off the bat, though… there’s a “hidden” novella on the inside of the cover sleeve. You can hop into the Discord to read my notes about it.


-Project Gestalt & Replicant System-
NieR Replicant Ver.1.22474487139… The Complete Guide

INDEX

GEDÄCHTNIS / 記憶 / MEMORY
Visual Works
Character Guide
Story Guide

NieR / ニーア
Playback NieR
システム解説 / System Explanation
ストーリ攻略 / Story Guide
15 Nightmares 攻略 / 15 Nightmares Guide
クエスト攻略 / Quest Guide
E End (hex) 攻略 / E Ending Guide

Ashes of Dreams
Investigation Report
The Abyss of NieR Project

EXPIATION
贖罪 (Atonement)

CONCEPT WORKS & EXTRA
Concept Works Ver.1.22…
Concept Works (Original)
Visual Works (Original)
Character Illustration & CG Model (Original)
The Memory of NieR Gestalt
Other Artworks
#NieR Art Gallery
Project “GESTALT” Outline
Weapon Story
Emil’s Survey Report
Diary and Log
Letters
Creator’s Interview (Original)
Creator’s Interview Ver.1.22…
Key Person’s Letters

SHORT STORIES: THE SECRET
And Then There Were None Ver.1.00
The Stone Flower Ver.1.00
The Red and the Black Ver.1.00
Little Princess Ver.1.00
The Magic Mountain Ver.1.00
Witches’ Sabbath Ver.1.00
The Little Mermaid Ver.1.00
Straight is the Gate Ver.1.00
Around the World in 80 Days Ver.1.00
The Lost World Ver.1.00
The Lost World Appendix ver.1.22474487139…

Creator’s Interview Ver.1.22…

This is a section that mirrors the interview in the original release of Grimoire NieR. It is between Producer Saito Yosuke, Creative Director Yoko Taro, Director Ito Saki, and composer Okabe Keiichi.

(Beware of potential spoilers below…)

There is a topic that deals with the Administrators in Ending E and Yoko is asked about what implications it may have for Automata.

  • Yoko talks about the uncanny likeness between the two Administrators and 2B & 9S, but he stops at giving a constructive answer because he wants people to imagine things on their own.
  • He says that if the creator comes out and explains everything, that dashes everyone’s ideas (whether they’re right or wrong), and he doesn’t want to do that.
  • He says that there IS a reason or meaning behind the two administrators looking like 2B & 9S, but he he’s not saying what it is.
  • He says that it’s really not important for the narrative of Replicant; he’s always said similar things to this, which is why he often uses other mediums, like novels and such, to give further details. These unanswered topics are also potential ideas for future games, manga, stage plays, etc., further down the road.
  • “It’s okay for somethings to be answered and others not.” – Yoko Taro

YoRHa Girls Ver.1.1a Stage Play – Act 1 Officially Available on YouTube

The official YouTube account for the YoRHa stage plays has uploaded the 1st Act of the latest and final YoRHa stage play: YoRHa Girls Ver.1.1a. You can read more about this version of the play here.

Please note that only ACT 1 has been made publicly available for free at this time. Because of how sudden this video was dropped, we may hear about the official Blu-ray release date soon.

The English subtitles provided here are likely done by the same individual who translated Yoko’s latest stage play “Bakuken.” More information about this will be updated later when more becomes known.

「YoRHa Girls Ver1.1a Stage Play」 —- first half —-

  • [Original / Screenplay] Yoko Taro
  • [Direction] Matsuda Ichidai
  • [Music] Keiichi Okabe (MONACA)

[Cast]

  • No.9 / Momoka Onishi
  • No.2 / Shiki Aoki
  • No.21 / Moeka Koizumi
  • No.22 / Aika Sonoda
  • No.6 / Megu Taniguchi
  • No.3 / Ayaki Matsuda
  • No.4 / Moe Tsurumi
  • Instructor / Mao Noguchi
  • Haou (Cactus) / Mayu Sekiya
  • Suiren (Lotus) / Non Harusaki
  • Tsuruhana (Phlox) / Yuka Nihei

[Musical Performance]

  • Violin 1st / Mitsuri Shimada
  • Violin 2nd / yurika
  • Viola / Moe Aoyagi
  • Cello / Moe Oura
  • Piano / Hirata Yuna
  • Chorus / Luna Goami
  • Chorus / Marie Kocho

[Links]

© 2017-2021 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Yoko Taro’s New Stage Play “Bakuken” Has English Subtitles!

Yoko Taro’s latest stage play endeavour will not only be streamed live on NicoNico, but it will also come with English subtitles, courtesy of 8-4!

NOTE: Please be aware that the link to the English subtitled stream is DIFFERENT from the normal Japanese broadcast.

For more information on this stage play, please see my initial post about it here.

Below is a quick run-down of the various streams that will be available on NicoNico. All information you may need to purchase a NET Ticket for the English subtitled version is listed on the NicoNico page.

When you go to any of the pages on NicoNico listed above, the page will automatically sync with the location/time zone of your system (ie. If you are in Japan, it will list all times in JST. If you are in Eastern Time Zone, it will list everything in EST). Please check the page to see when each show will be available for your specific time zone.