Nioh Producer Admits He Would Have Been Fired If He Weren’t His Own Boss

Fumihiko Yasuda, the producer of Nioh and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, has been open about the challenges of making games. He recently admitted that if he weren’t in charge of Team Ninja, he probably wouldn’t have kept his job.

Yasuda has worked at Team Ninja for years, helping shape games like Nioh and Ninja Gaiden. His leadership style isn’t exactly traditional, and he’s made some bold creative choices. But because he’s the one running things, he hasn’t had to worry about being fired for those risks. If someone else were in charge, he thinks his job would have been on the line.

He talked about how game development is full of pressure. When things don’t go as planned, there’s always a chance that people get replaced. But since he’s in control, he’s been able to push forward without that fear. He’s aware that not everyone in the industry has that kind of freedom, and he knows it’s a rare situation.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty was another gamble. The game had a rough launch, with players complaining about difficulty spikes and technical problems. Despite that, Yasuda and his team stuck to their vision. He’s not afraid to admit that some of his decisions could have cost him his job under different leadership.

Even with the bumps along the way, Yasuda has kept moving forward. He’s committed to making challenging action games, even if they don’t always land perfectly. His approach has paid off in the long run, with Nioh becoming one of Team Ninja’s biggest hits.

He’s not saying he’s untouchable. If his games completely flopped, even being the boss wouldn’t save him. But for now, he’s got the freedom to take risks, knowing he won’t wake up to a termination notice.