(Image credit: Square Enix)
Yoko Taro and Yosuke Saito, the masterminds behind the Nier series, have addressed a recent wave of misunderstandings spurred by mistranslated comments. The confusion arose during a live stream that coincided with the PC release of Stellar Blade. Saito’s comments on Nier’s design sparked rumors that Square Enix imposed restrictions, a claim they firmly deny.
Addressing the buzz, Yoko took to Twitter to assure fans, in a tweet translated by Automaton, “I’ve never heard of such a thing happening.” Saito echoed this sentiment by clarifying the mistranslation and emphasizing that the Nier development team enjoyed creative freedom, unrestricted in any form.
Saito expressed an interest in discussing this further on a future livestream, though the timing is yet to be confirmed. The misconception stemmed from questions about character designs. Yoko Taro mentioned their preference for unconventional approaches, illustrated by his statement: “If western sci-fi is filled with marine-like soldiers, we might opt for gothic lolita outfits as a contrast. We often choose the contrarian route.”
Saito, in his original remarks, noted the team does consider certain boundaries. However, the subtleties were lost in translation. The mistranslation implied: “Certain character aspects could be ethically or morally inappropriate. We establish guidelines on what’s acceptable,” suggesting external constraints rather than a reflection on societal norms.
Moreover, Saito added: “While some things are permissible in Japan, they might be troublesome overseas. We tend to avoid such issues.” Automaton emphasized it was this context that sparked the misconception, mistakenly suggesting publisher interference rather than cultural nuance.
The interest in these topics remains significant, and there is promise for more insights soon. Meanwhile, curious fans can explore community-driven discussions and content as the Stellar Blade community picks up pace, showcasing its unique fan engagement, as Nexus Mods continues to thrive with trending downloads.