Former PlayStation Boss Shuhei Yoshida Says ‘NieR: Automata’ Brought the Japanese Gaming Industry Back to Life

Avatar photoMark Pomniachi
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NieR:Automata was released back in 2017 as the sequel to the cult classic NieR game, which, despite becoming a cult title, wasn’t as successful on the market. On the other hand, NieR:Automata was a massive hit, praised by both critics and fans, as well as selling millions of copies worldwide.

And while the impact of that game is still discussed and it is regularly cited as one of the best games of the 21st century, former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida went even further by saying that NieR:Automata basically saved the Japanese gaming industry!

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In a recent interview, Yoshida commented on the Japanese gaming industry and he said that there was a clear difference in the industry “before Nier and after Nier.” The game, seemingly, was a giant release for Japan and showed the developers that Japan can have a standalone industry without chasing Western trends.

“I think [director] Yoko Taro made it without thinking about whether or not it would sell overseas. From there it became clear that Japanese creators were making ‘Japanese things’ and those things were selling overseas,” he said. “Everyone realized that with Nier.”

The trend of chasing more realistic Western games seemingly stopped there and that is a great thing that would ultimately lead to more original games. “I think the Japanese game industry was revived after Nier so much so that I would say it was before Nier and after Nier,” Yoshida concluded.

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Mark is the kind of person who gets way too excited about new software updates and can’t resist taking apart gadgets—just to see if they can put them back together. With years of experience in tech journalism and a love for all things digital, Mark writes about the stories behind the screens, from game-changing innovations to the everyday tech that keeps life running smoothly. Outside of work, they’re the go-to “tech support” for friends and family, whether it’s fixing a printer that won’t cooperate or explaining why Grandma’s laptop keeps showing pop-ups. When Mark isn’t glued to their screen, they’re probably building their dream PC, rewatching sci-fi movies for the hundredth time, or testing a gadget that promises to “change everything.” Spoiler: they’ll let you know if it actually does.

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