Yoko Taro Doesn’t Think NieR Replicant Will Sell Very Well, Calls NieR: Automata Sales a “Fluke”

Yoko Taro doesn’t seem to think NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… is going to sell very well. At least, that’s what he’s said in a new message posted to series fans on Square Enix’s website. The message was originally shared with critics who would be reviewing the game.

In the message, Taro reminds fans that NieR Replicant is a “version upgrade” of the original 2010 game, not a remake of a remaster. He also predicted the game wouldn’t sell very well, because aside from NieR: Automata, none of his games ever do.

“In recent years, when I have been around Square Enix, they always give off this palpable aura of enthusiasm as if to say “Look! NieR:Automata (the previous thing I made) did well, so NieR Replicant will also sell now,”” Taro said. “I would like to take this opportunity to tell Square Enix to take a good hard look at reality. Only the names are similar and the content of the two games is completely different, so it’s not really going to sell all that well now, is it lads?

“I mean, come on, I made it! Automata selling was a fluke, and all my other stuff has hardly sold anything worthy of note. If you really do go ahead and manufacture all these discs and then store them in a big pile in a warehouse somewhere, the only thing we can do with that will be to have a good game of frisbee. Although, I mean… that does sound like fun and all…”

It’s a little unusual for a creative director to say things like this about his own game, but Taro is pretty well known for being outspoken and being kind of a weird guy, so it makes sense. Producer Yosuke Saito, on the other had, was a little more optimistic about the game’s prospects.

“We are calling it a “version upgrade”, but regardless of what Mr. YOKO says, I personally believe that moniker doesn’t do justice to the level of quality that the team has achieved!” Saito said.

“Having said that, NieR: Automata’s big success was honestly somewhat of a miracle, so I don’t think we will be selling quite that much… However, if we don’t shift a certain amount then Mr. YOKO and myself will be forced to travel the world, selling the game out the back of a van. Ah, and Mr. Okabe will have to come along too!”

Saito ended his message by asking fans to continue supporting the series, finishing by saying, “Please, anything but the van…”

The whole thing is very tongue-in-cheek and pretty funny, but Taro is correct that, outside of Automata, his games haven’t sold very well. Personally, we’ve enjoyed Taro’s previous titles. We liked Drakengard 3, loved NieR: Automata, and enjoyed Replicant. Still, if you’re a fan of the series, it might be a good idea to pick Replicant up, if only to keep Taro and Saito out of the dreaded van. The game is out now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.